Customs and Traditions

Transcription

People will not look forward to posterity, who never look
backward to their ancestors.
Edmund Burke 1729-1797
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
CHAPTER 1
Rank of the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CHAPTER 2
Dress of the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CHAPTER 3
Ceremonial Traditions of the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
CHAPTER 4
Other Information on the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
CHAPTER 5
Barracks and Lines of the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
CHAPTER 6
Corps and Regimental Badges of the Australian Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
CHAPTER 7
Badges of Corps and Regiments since Disbanded or Amalgamated. . . . . . . . . 157
CHAPTER 8
Unit Formations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
CHAPTER 9
Military Skills, Trade and Other Badges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
1
Table of Contents
2
Introduction
Many of the Australian Army’s customs have been handed down
from the British Army but this is to be expected. Most of life’s customs are
traditionally passed down through the family connection and the Australian
Army is no different, for it was conceived from the British Army and is therefore
family.
Nevertheless these customs have served the Australian Army well
over the years and have proven their worth; they are now as much a part of our
Army as they are of the British Army. In many ways customs are the valuable
foundation of a unit or a corps; they are the esprit-de-corps, and they cannot
be counted in terms of dollars; they are far more important than that. In the
words of a famous general of the 1990s “....customs and traditions install a
sense of belonging in the lives of young soldiers.”1 A custom is a practice, a
mode of behaviour or, it could be said, a particular way of acting in a given set
of circumstances; a tradition is the passing down over time of a custom.
This book is presented in nine chapters. Thefirst deals with the rank
system within the Australian Army touching on some special appointments
such as the regimental sergeant-major (RSM) and the adjutant. Thesecond
chapter describes some of the many items and embellishments of dress within
the Army, whilst the third chapter examines the background to the Army’s
cceremonial traditions.Chapter 4 explains many of the Army’s customs and
other ‘odds and sods’ that are part and parcel of the Australian Army’s
everyday life.
Chapter 5 covers the origins of barrack and unit names. Here I have
dealt with some names in more detail than others and there are a couple of
reasons for this. Where there is a name that is well known, or where it is easy to
track down other publications dealing with a particular name, I have just
touched upon the origin, however, if the subject is rather obscure I have
provided some basic background information. The various battles and areas of
operations are stories in themselves and are far too complicated to be briefly
described here. The idea is to give the reader a background to the name, not a
history of it.
Chapter 6 describes the current corps and regimental badges of the
Australian Army (including a very brief corps/regimental background history
to each corps/regiment). Again the aim is not to go into the full and sometimes
complicated history of the corps or regiment but simply some explanation to
their origins. Theseventh chapter shows the badges of corps and regiments
which have over the years been removed from the Order of Battle. It also lists
the many infantry regiments which have been either disbanded or
amalgamated into various state infantry regiments.
1.
Colin Powell A Soldier’s Way p. 57
3
Chapter 8 deals with the unit and formation emblems of the Army.
These are not headdress badges but they appear on unit signs and
documentation. Thefinal chapter covers the trade and military skill badges
worn on the Australian Army uniform.
In putting together this information I would like to thank the
following for allowing me to publish extracts from various articles and
publications:
Colonel R.J. Margetts (the Director of Infantry): the Infantry Centre’s
“Military Traditions and Customs”; Kaye & Ward: Major Lawrence Gordon’s
“Military Origins”; Gale and Polden: Major T.J. Edwards’ “Regimental Badges”;
Colonel R.W. Howell, (the Directorate of Military Studies): John Mordike’s “An
Army for a Nation”; Brigadier P.J.F. Painter (the Royal Artillery Institution):
Major D. Rollo’s “Gun Salutes”; the Minister of Public Works and Government
Services, Canada (1997): E.C. Russell’s “Customs and Traditions of the
Canadian Armed Forces”; and Colonel J. Bastiaan: “The Australian Unknown
Soldier” (After the Battle);
I would also like to thank the following for their advice and
assistance:
the Australian War Memorial (especially Mr Gary Oakely); the School
of Armour; Lieutenant Colonel Adams of the Royal Australian Army Nursing
Corps; Mr Gary Moss for his drawing skills; Major M.H. McCombe of the Queen
Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps; Sir Conrad Swan and his staff at the
College of Arms; Mrs S.K. Hopkins of the National Army Museum, Chelsea; Mr
R.G. Button of Wilkinson Sword in London; Mr David Fletcher of The Tank
Museum, Bovington; the Army Historical Branch of the British Ministry of
Defence; Warrant Officer Class One (RSM) Jack Selmes and his warrant
officers and NCOs from the Corps of Staff Cadets, Royal Military College,
Duntroon; Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Sillcock; Warrant Officer Class One (BSM)
Steve Hladio; Sergeant Phill Vavasour, Corporal Darren Hilder and especially
Sergeant Jason Silsbury for the majority of the photographs; the many corps
and unit regimental sergeant-majors, adjutants, and independent sub-unit
sergeant-majors for supplying me with information; and Warrant Officers
Class One (RSMs) John Wilson, Steve Griffiths, Anthony Reid and Clem
Russell, Lieutenant Colonels Mike Phelps and Greg Molyneux, and Squadron
Leader Rowley Tompsett.
A very special thanks to warrant Officer Class One (RSM) Brian
Boughton, Lieutenant Colonel Don Lowe, Majors Gary Matherson and Dale
Bradshaw and Brigadier Peter Kilpatrick for their invaluable guidance, advice,
support and assistance.
Any mistakes of fact within this publication are solely mine.
CHRISTOPHER JOBSON
4
Rank in the Australian Army
CHAPTER 1
Rank In The Australian Army
Australian Army Badges Of Rank
The matter of badges of rank is anything but simple, particularly
when dealing with the officers, and could very easily be the subject of a book in
itself. Well into the latter part of the last century, for example, there were
different badges of rank for corresponding ranks within different corps. The
aim here, however, is to simply give a very brief summary on the history of the
badges of rank and then cover the origin of each rank individually.
The Officers
Going back to the late 18th century, the different styles of epaulettes
worn by officers were in themselves badges of rank. However, by 1803
subalterns were wearing a single gold bullion epaulette on their right
shoulders. It was decided to change what was then the lieutenant’s epaulette
bullion tassels to a coarse gold fringe, in order to differentiate between a
lieutenant and a captain.
During the period 1822-1855, all general officers wore the same
badge of rank, that of a crossed sword and baton but the means of telling the
different levels of generals apart lay in their coat buttons. A major general wore
two rows of buttons with ten buttons in each row grouped in pairs. Both a
lieutenant general and a general wore two rows of nine buttons, with the
former having his buttons in groups of three and the latter, evenly spaced. In
1855 a major general wore a star, a lieutenant general a crown and a general
wore both a crown and a star. A major’s badge of rank was a single star.
The officers star (commonly referred to as a ‘pip’) is the Star of the
Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of
the Bath, which bears the motto TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO (THREE JOINED INTO
ONE)1, meaning the union of England, Scotland and Ireland. Prior to 1830 the
badge of rank was the Star of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
This was followed by more changes; the badge of rank for a colonel
became a crown and a star, for a lieutenant colonel a crown, and in the case of
the artillery, both a captain and a lieutenant wore a silver gunners grenade.
In 1864 the colonel’s badge of rank changed yet again, this time to a
half inch (13 mm) wide gold lace pattern around his collar, in addition to a
silver embroidered crown and star. In the same year the badge of a brigadier
1.
D. Alastair Campbell The Dress of the Royal Artillery p. 113
5
general was the same collar design as a general, but with no other
embellishments. Over the period 1855-1880, the badges for generals were a
star for a major general, a crown for a lieutenant general and a general wore
both a star and a crown. During the same period a major wore one star.
Another change came in 1857 with a colonel, a lieutenant colonel
and a major wearing, respectively, a crown and a star, a crown, and a star; all
on a collar surrounded with gold lace and cord. Captains wore a crown and a
star and lieutenants wore a crown, both on a collar topped with gold lace and
cord on the top only.
1880 saw more changes which have more or less remained constant
over the last one hundred years. A field marshal retained his crossed batons,
wreath and crown, which came into being in 1736. All generals wore a crossed
sword and baton with the addition of a crown and a star for generals, a crown
for lieutenant generals and a star for major generals; however, a brigadier
general wore no additional embellishments. Colonels wore a crown and two
stars, lieutenant colonels a crown and one star, and majors wore a crown.
Captains wore two stars, lieutenants wore one star and 2nd lieutenants wore
no badge of rank at all. In 1902 captains and lieutenants gained an additional
star each (now three and two) and 2nd lieutenants wore one star. The rank of
brigadier general was abolished in 1921 to be replaced by that of brigadier and
this badge of rank became a crown and three stars.
The Other Ranks
The badges of rank for warrant officers and NCOs were not quite so
confusing; however, there were different badges for both trades and ranks.
There were, for example, three classes of master gunners; there were
bandmasters, regimental quartermaster sergeants and provisional staff
sergeant-majors; there were also sergeant trumpeters, to name but a few.
The master gunners 1st class and 2nd class, the staff
sergeant-major 1st class, the bandmaster, and the warrant officers class one
(those who did not fit into any of the previously mentioned positions) were all
warrant officers class one. Whilst it could be said that this is not too different
from today (master gunners, RSMs, and some bandmasters, are all warrant
officers class one), at least at present all these different positions wear a
common badge of rank.
The Ranks
Lance Corporal
The word ‘Lance’ means just that. In days past mounted soldiers
were considered superior to those on foot. When unhorsed in battle, the lance
which the ex-mounted man carried indicated his superiority and gave him
certain prestige. From ‘lance-man-of-foot’, as he was called, comes the modern
‘lance’ rank.
6
Corporal
Corporal is derived from the French ‘caporal’, which was originally
Italian (capodi) meaning head of a section. The current style of wearing the
chevrons by NCOs dates back to 1802 when an instruction was issued in the
British Army laying down the style in which ‘stripes’ were to be worn.
Bombardier / Lance Bombardier
The most junior NCO in artillery was referred to as bombardier,
which is derived from an artillery piece called the Bombard (used at the Battle
of Crecy in 1346, the first battle in which the English employed artillery). There
were problems with the Bombard and at times they could be just as deadly to
the detachments as to the enemy, for they were known to blow up as the
charge was ignited. Therefore the dangerous task of firing the piece fell to the
most junior NCO; hence the rank bombardier. In 1924 the Royal Regiment of
Australian Artillery did away with the rank of corporal and replaced it with that
of bombardier; the new rank of lance bombardier was then introduced.
Sergeant
The term sergeant dates back centuries to the English feudal system
when landowners used serfs from the fields to fight battles. The sons and
personal servants of the landowners were also employed but as a mark of
respect they were put in charge of the serfs and others with a lesser station in
life. These sons and servants became known as ‘servientes’, from the Latin ‘to
serve’. In time the term became sergeant.
Staff Sergeant/Colour Sergeant
The rank of staff sergeant was often given to the eldest son of the
most powerful of the landowners and he was selected to carry the
Coat-of-Arms into battle. The banner bearing his heraldic device was raised on
a pole or a staff. The rank of colour sergeant was introduced into the British
Army in 1813 as the protector of the ensign and the Colour. There is no such
rank in the Australian Army except at the Royal Military College Duntroon,
where it is a rank within the Corps of Staff Cadets. The escorts in a Colour
Party are often staff sergeants and for ceremonial occasions, when Colours are
on parade, they are referred to as the colour sergeants.
Warrant Officer (Sergeant-Major)
The regimental sergeant-major (RSM) is the senior soldier within an
organisation (ie. a regiment, battalion, brigade, division or command) and he
works to and advises the commanding officer, or commander. He is
responsible for discipline, dress and all ceremonial aspects of life within that
organisation. In the field he is also responsible for the re-supply of
ammunition. The RSM is the custodian of the unit’s customs and traditions.
The title sergeant-major was originally the rank of today’s major and
denoted the staff officer of a regiment. The title fell into disuse towards the end
of the 17th century when the word ‘sergeant’ was deleted but in 1797 it was
decided to post the senior soldier of units to the headquarters and thus the
appointment of sergeant-major was officially incorporated into the
7
establishment of the British Army. Over the years the title was further defined
by the addition of the word ‘regimental’.
In the early 1800s the sergeant-major wore four chevrons and by the
1840s the crown was added to the top of the chevrons. In 1881
sergeant-majors were given warrant rank and the badge of rank was a crown
which was worn on the cuff. In 1917 the rank of warrant officer class one was
established with the Royal Coat of Arms designated as the badge of rank. The
crown was reallocated to warrant officers class two. In the Australian Army the
badge for warrant officers class one was replaced by the Australian Coat of
Arms in 1976. The position of RSM is an appointment, not a rank; however, all
RSMs are warrant officers class one.
The position for wearing the badges of rank of warrant officers
changed from the lower forearm to the mid-upper arm at the end of 1996. It
should also be noted that the correct terminology is ‘warrant officer class 1’ or
‘2’, not 1st or 2nd class, and warrant officers are not NCOs, they are officers
who hold a warrant.
See also: ‘Warrant Officers and Warrants’
Lieutenant
The word comes from the French ‘lieu’, meaning ‘in place of’ and the
Latin ‘tenant’, meaning ‘holding’ (one who holds the place of, or deputises for,
another). A lieutenant is the rank below a captain, and deputises for him. The
rank of 2nd lieutenant came into being in 1871 replacing that of ensign (or
cornet in the cavalry). The rank was phased out of the Australian Regular
Army in 1986.
Both lieutenants and captains were referred to as subalterns, whilst
majors and above were of ‘field rank’ but today the term subaltern generally
refers only to lieutenants. There is some argument as to the origin of the word;
some sources say that it is derived from the French, meaning ‘inferior to, or
subordinate’.
Captain
Captain is the oldest of all military titles. It is from the Spanish
‘captain’ which in turn was derived from the Latin ‘caput’, the head.
Major
officers.
The rank of major is discussed under the sub heading of warrant
Colonel
Colonel denotes the superior officer of a regiment. The term is
derived from the Italian ‘colonello’, a little column; so called because he led the
‘little column’ at the head of a regiment (presumably the Regimental
Headquarters).
A lieutenant colonel ‘deputises’ for a colonel (see: Lieutenant).
8
Brigadier
At the end of World War I the British Government told the British
Army that it had too many generals and that they were to be reduced in
numbers. The Army did just that; it removed the word ‘general’ and was left
with fewer generals and, at the same time, had created a ‘new’ rank.
The rank of brigadier general was abolished in the Australian Army
in 1921, and it was eventually replaced by that of brigadier in 1929. In the
interim titles such as ‘colonel-in-command’, ‘colonel-of-staff’ and
‘colonel-commandant’ were used for officers posted into that level of command.
General
There has always been some confusion about the different levels of
generals, in particular over the matter of a lieutenant general being senior to a
major general. However, the definition of ‘lieutenant’ explains how a lieutenant
general ‘deputises’ for a general and is therefore senior to a major general.
During the (English) Civil War the Parliamentary Army was
commanded by a “captain general” (see Field Marshal ), the cavalry was
commanded by a “lieutenant general” and the infantry was commanded by a
more junior general called a “sergeant major general”. In time the word
“sergeant” was dropped (see Warrant Officers ).
Field Marshal
The rank of field marshal came into being in 1736 when it replaced
that of captain general. The title of captain general was re-introduced in 1950
by His Majesty King George VI, when he expressed his desire to have his title of
Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Artillery changed. Today Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II is the Captain General of the Royal Regiment of Australian
Artillery.
Previous ‘Other Rank’ Rank Structures
RANK
CHEVRONS
DISTINGUISHING BADGES
ON JACKET
ON GREATCOATS
Warrant Officer Class One
Staff Sergeant-Major 1st Class
Royal Coat of Arms within a wreath
Master Gunner 1st Class
Royal Coat of Arms within a wreath, over a field
gun
Master Gunner 2nd Class
Royal Coat of Arms, over a field gun
Bandmaster
Lyre (Large)
Warrant Officer Class One
Royal Coat of Arms
Warrant Officer Class Two
Master Gunner 3rd Class
Crown within a wreath, over a field gun
Staff Sergeant-Major 3rd Class
Crown within a wreath
9
RANK
CHEVRONS
DISTINGUISHING BADGES
ON JACKET
ON GREATCOATS
Brigade (or Regimental)
Quartermaster- Sergeant
Armament Quartermaster-Sergeant
Mechanist Quartermaster-Sergeant
(Other) Warrant Officers Class Two
Crown
Non-commissioned Officers
Provisional Staff Sergeant-Major (1)
4
Crown (above the stripes)
Bugle-Major (1)
Bugle (above the stripes)
Trumpet-Major (1)
Crossed trumpets (above the stripes)
Drum-Major
Lyre (small) (above the stripes)
Farrier (or wheeler, saddler, or smith)
Staff-Sergeant
3
Squadron (or, battery, troop, or
company) Quartermaster-Sergeant
Armament Staff-Sergeant
Staff-Sergeant (Australian Army
Service, Ordnance, Medical, or Pay
Corps)
Crown (above the stripes)
Armourer Staff-Sergeant
Crown and Crossed
hammer and pincers
(above the stripes)
Band Sergeant
Lyre (small) (above the stripes)
Crown
(above the stripes)
Sergeant
Lance Sergeant
Corporal (2)
2
2nd Corporal
1
Bombardier (2)
Lance Corporal
Acting Bombardier
Notes:
1.
The ranks of provisional staff sergeant-major, bugle-major, and trumpet-major were later
changed to acting staff sergeant-major, sergeant-bugler, and sergeant- trumpeter
respectively.
2.
In 1924 the Royal Australian Artillery did away with the rank of corporal, replacing it with the
rank of bombardier and at the same time introducing the rank of lance bombardier.
10
Officers’ Badges of Rank
Field Marshall
General
IA J
TR
Lieutenant General
UNO
IN
CTA
UN
Major General
11
UNO
IN
IA J
TR
CTA
UN
UNO
IN
IA J
TR
CTA
UN
IA J
TR
IA J
TR
IA J
TR
Brigadier
CTA
UN
UNO
IN
UNO
IN
UNO
IN
CTA
UN
CTA
UN
Colonel
IA J
TR
UNO
IN
CTA
UN
Lieutenant Colonel
12
Major
UNO
IN
IA J
TR
CTA
UN
CTA
UN
IA J
TR
IA J
TR
Captain
UNO
IN
CTA
UN
UNO
IN
IA J
TR
CTA
UN
UNO
IN
UNO
IN
IA J
TR
CTA
UN
Lieutenant
IA J
TR
UNO
IN
CTA
UN
2nd Lieutenant
13
Uniform Insignia for Governors
Governor-General of Australia
State Governor
Other Ranks’ Badges of Rank
TR A L IA
AUS
A U ST R A L I A
DR
M
Warrant Officer (the RSM of the Army)
14
Warrant Officer Class 1
Warrant Officer Class 2
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal / Bombardier
Lance Corporal / Lance Bombardier
15
The Private Ranks
The title of the private soldiers in most corps and regiments within
the Australian Army is Private; however, there are some exceptions:
Royal Australian Armoured Corps
Trooper
Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
Gunner
Royal Australian Engineers
Sapper
Royal Australian Corps of Signals
Signaller
Australian Army Aviation Corps
Trooper
Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Craftsman
Australian Army Band Corps
Musician
Special Air Service Regiment
Trooper
Regional Force Surveillance Units
Patrolman
The Adjutant
The adjutant is an appointment usually given to a senior captain
(however, at times it has been assumed by subalterns or even majors) which
confers no additional rank. The duties of the adjutant in barracks consist of
attending to the commanding officer’s correspondence, the issue of orders to
and by his unit, the keeping of officer duty rosters etc. Orders signed by the
adjutant are considered to be those of the commanding officer for whom he is
really the scribe and mouthpiece; he is the CO’s principal staff officer. On
operations he is also responsible for the running of the unit command post.
Static units such as garrisons, depots and Army schools also have
adjutants whose barracks duties are, to all intents and purposes, the same.
Commission
A Commission, from a military point of view, is a document
authorising the holder to perform duties in the service of the State.
Commissions are granted by the Governor-General on behalf of the Sovereign
and the recipient, in the military sense, is ranked as an officer.
An officer cannot have his Commission revoked except by authority
from the Sovereign or the Sovereign’s representative (ie the Governor-General).
An officer retains a commission for life (technically officers retire, although
they may resign their commission, and soldiers take discharge).
16
An Officer’s Commission
Warrant Officers and Warrants
Warrant officers are not NCOs, they are officers by warrant, as
opposed to officers by Commission or Non-Commissioned Officers. Warrant
Officer is the rank between commissioned officers and non-commissioned
officers (NCOs). Commissions were originally granted by the Sovereign to
officers who, in turn, could appoint juniors to help them carry out their
commission.
Initially authority was given to grant Warrants to certain selected
personnel giving them authority whilst performing a particular duty. When it
was finished the Warrant expired, so warrant appointments only lasted for a
particular campaign. The Sovereign delegated the authority to the
Commander-in-Chief to grant these Warrants.
17
On 20th January 1879, Clause 26 of the (British) Army Circulars
was issued. This gave authority to the Secretary of State for War to appoint, by
Warrant, “...such officers whose relative position in the Army was senior to all
NCOs but inferior to commissioned officers”. Shortly afterwards the Airey
Committee on Army Reorganisation handed down a number of
recommendations which included “...the institution of a class of warrant
officers...”.The Secretary then set in place “...a class of warrant officers
intermediate between commissioned officers and NCOs. This class [is to]
include all RSMs and other sergeant-majors”.2
The urgent needs of the Great War resulted in the introduction of an
additional level of warrant officer in 1915 and warrant officers were from then
on identified as either Class 1 or Class 2. On promotion to Warrant Officer
Class 2, the soldier was presented with a Warrant and he was presented with
another on his promotion to Class 1. This practice ceased in 1938, with Army
Order 155, and from that time on the one Warrant covered both ranks.
Today in the Australian Army a Warrant is granted under the
authority of the Defence Act of 1903. Warrants were signed by the Chief of
Personnel; however, they are now signed by the Chief of Army.
A Warrant Officer’s Warrant
2.
18
British Under Secretary of State for War letter dated 24th February 1881
Dress of the Australian Army
CHAPTER 2
The Lanyard
The lanyard had a genuine purpose in war. It was originally a piece of
cord approximately a metre in length, used to secure a jack-knife which was
issued to both the artillery and the cavalry. The knife had a number of uses.
The blade was for cutting loose horses which became entangled in the head
and heel ropes of the picket lines, and the spike of the knife was used as a hoof
pick for the removal of stones from horses’ hooves. A fuze key was also
attached to the lanyard.
Hanging loose, the lanyard soon became dirty and for the day-to-day
barrack routine it looked out of place on an otherwise smart uniform; so for
peace-time purposes the lanyard was plaited and blancoed white to match
both the white bandolier and the white waist belt worn by the gunners of the
day. The lanyard was worn on the left shoulder with the end, containing both
the knife and fuze key, tucked into the left breast pocket.
In 1920 the lanyard was moved to the right shoulder, simply because
of the difficult problem of trying to remove the knife from the pocket behind the
bandolier. By now the bandolier and the belt, worn with battle dress, had
ceased to be white whilst the lanyard remained so. The knife was removed in
1933 and the lanyard then became a straight cord worn purely as an
ornamental item of dress. In 1955 it was, for a short time, re-introduced in the
plaited style but it quickly went back to the straight lanyard currently worn
today.
All corps wear the lanyard on the right shoulder with the exception of
‘A’ Field Battery of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and the
battalions of infantry regiments who wear their lanyards on the left shoulder
(‘A’ Field Battery simply chose not to change in 1920; there is no truth to the
story of the Prince of Wales authorising the Battery to wear the lanyard on the
left shoulder for services to himself and the Empire). The infantry regiments
use different coloured lanyards on the left shoulder to identify their various
battalions.
As time has passed, other corps and units have adopted the lanyard
as an item of dress, wearing it in their own appropriate corps colours. It is
interesting to note that a good many gunners today still wear a lanyard, to
which is attached a modern version of the clasp knife, in the field.
There is another item of dress which is often confused with the
lanyard and that is the aiguillette. The aiguillette was originally a piece of cord
worn by the cavalry, with the sole purpose of tying-up bundles of forage.
19
Two Gunner officers wearing their lanyards
(the officer on the right is from A Field Battery)
The Aiguillette
The aiguillette is a series of plaited cords worn over the shoulder and
looped up to the breast with the ends capped by metal tags. The origin was a
piece of cord used for tying-up bundles of forage by cavalrymen. In the course
of time aiguillettes became increasingly decorative and decreasingly useful,
until finally they were worn only as a mark of distinction by officers on
ceremonial occasions.
Today they are worn on ceremonial occasions by officers of the
General Staff, their Military Assistants (MAs), Aides-de-Camp (ADCs), other
selected officers such as escort officers for visiting foreign senior officers and
military attaches.
An officer wearing the aiguillette in the post of an ADC
20
The Slouch Hat
The story of the ‘Hat Khaki Fur Felt’ goes back to 1885 to the
Victorian Mounted Rifles. The Commanding Officer, Colonel Tom Price, had
his soldiers turn up the right-hand side of the hat so that his troops, when
marching past on ceremonial parades, could (to quote the “book”) ‘look the
inspecting officer in the eye’. The style was picked up by the remainder of the
Australian colonial armies in 1890. In time the sides changed with the brim
being turned up on the left to assist in small arms drill.
The ‘Slouch Hat’ in the general duty
(side down) position
The Pugaree
The pugaree takes its name from the Hindu ‘pagre’, meaning a
turban or thin scarf of muslin. The pugaree was worn around the hat,
sometimes falling down behind to keep the sun off the neck. It has in its time
been worn on the Slouch Hat in many forms but during the First World War a
plain khaki cloth band was worn and this style continued until 1929. In 1930
new pugarees were introduced with different coloured folds denoting Arms or
Services. During the Second World War a flat pugaree was issued to the
Second AIF. The troops serving in the middle east introduced a folded pugaree
as a distinguishing mark of active service and in time this style has become the
pugaree of today (it is said that the seven folds in the current pugaree
represent the six states and the territories of Australia; well, it’s a nice story
anyway).
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, wear a
jungle green pugaree. It was introduced into the Unit during the Battalion’s
service in Malaya over the period 1959-61. A local tailor, Mr Mohavved Beseek,
was contracted to supply the Unit with pugarees and he did so, making them
out of British Army jungle green shirts.1
1.
1 RAR Regimental History p.2
21
Chin Strap
The cadets at the Royal Military College Duntroon wear the chin
straps on their hats with the buckles on the right-hand side of the face. This
custom goes back to the death of Major General Sir William Bridges at Gallipoli
in 1915. Bridges was the founder of the College and it is said that when he was
shot he had his hat on back-to front. In respect the cadets at the College
turned their hats around (it is also said the General had the two buttons in the
back vent of his greatcoat undone, hence the tradition at RMC, when the coat
was in service, of the undone buttons).
Emu Plumes
During the Great Shearers Strike of Queensland in 1891, the
Queensland Mounted Infantry were called out to aid the civil powers. The QMI
patrolled the Western Plains and to defeat boredom the troopers would ride
down the emus which, at that time, were in great abundance. It was the
Gympie Squadron which first seized on the idea of wearing the feathers in their
hats, a design said to be attributed to Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel.
Before the strike was ended the entire Regiment was wearing them.
By the early days of the First World War all the Queensland
regiments of the Light Horse were wearing the feathers in their hats but in
1915 a non-Queensland brigade, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, arrived in Egypt
wearing the plumes. After a dispute the Minister for Defence, Senator Pearce,
ruled that all units of the Australian Light Horse would wear the plumes.
Today they are worn by all members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.
An RAAC soldier with his emu plumes
22
The Black Beret
Members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps proudly wear a
black beret in preference to the standard Army-issue blue beret. The origin of
the “black hat” goes back to the latter days of World War I.
During a British Army Tank Corps dinner held at Bernicourt in
1917, a discussion was held by some officers with regard to what type of
uniform the new Corps would wear with the eventual coming of peace. It was
decided to adopt the ‘beret Basque’ which was at the time being worn by the
Chars d’Assaut (the French tank regiment). The opinion was that the beret,
which was black, hid oil stains and was considerably more practical for use
with tanks than the khaki peaked cap or the leather helmet. After some debate
a suggestion was put forward to, and approved by, HM King George V in March
1924; however the black beret is only worn, in the British Army, by the Royal
Tank Regiment. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps was granted approval
to wear the beret in August 1944.
The Australian Army and a number of corps within the Army have
since adopted colours other than black for their head-dress (eg. The Special Air
Service, the commandos, the Military Police to name only a few) but it was the
Armour Corps who made the initial change to the beret head-dress.
The Sam Browne Belt
The Sam Browne belt was invented by General Sir Samuel James
Browne, VC, when he was a lieutenant colonel serving in India in 1858. During
action Browne received two sword cuts; one was across the knee and the other
severed his left arm.
From that time onwards Browne found difficulty in drawing his
sword from the belt then in service due to the loss of his arm, so he devised a
belt which had a supporting shoulder strap. The belt also had a second
shoulder strap for use when wearing a pistol. The design was eventually
adopted by the British Army during the Boer War and was later taken up by
other countries (apart from the countries of the British Empire; it was also
worn by numerous armies and police forces around the world including the
United States, Germany and France).
The black Sam Browne worn by armoured units (and by the Aviation
Corps, who see themselves as the cavalry of the air) is purely an Australian
tradition, in keeping with the black beret. Members of the Royal Australian
Army Nursing Corps also wear the black Sam Browne.
Today, in the Australian Army, the belt is worn by officers and
warrant officers class one on ceremonial occasions and it is also worn daily by
both adjutants and RSMs (except when wearing combat uniform).
23
An RAAC warrant officer wearing the black beret
An RSM wearing the Sam Browne Belt
24
The Infantry Scarlet Sash
The Australian Army Infantry Corps adopted the scarlet sash worn
by warrant officers class two and senior NCOs from the British Army which
has been wearing it since the 17th century. Some were worn around the waist,
whilst others were worn over the shoulder.
The sashes were used as badges of rank. However, it is said that they
also had a practical purpose, originally being used to drag the wounded from
the battle field. Legend also has it that because they became blood stained it
was decided that they would be coloured scarlet so as to ‘hide’ the blood stains.
The British Regiments of Foot had officers wearing silken sashes
over the left shoulder and senior NCOs wore worsted sashes over the right
shoulder. Today in the Australian Army general officers and officers holding
certain appointments wear sashes around their waist when dressed in
Ceremonial Dress. Infantry warrant officers class two, senior NCOs and senior
cadets at the Royal Military College Duntroon, wear the scarlet sash when on
parade, in mess dress and when carrying out regimental duties.
There are many tall stories told in messes about the scarlet sash and
its cords (or tassels). Stories of the cords range from their representing British
Army campaigns or Army line regiments to their use for counting casualties on
the battle field. None of these are true and are often used to leg-pull the newly
promoted sergeant.
A sergeant of the Royal Australian Regiment wearing the red sash
25
Gorget Patches
The gorget was originally a piece of armour worn around the neck.
When the wearing of armour fell into disuse, the gorget continued to be worn
as a badge of rank by officers when on duty. By the time of its abolition in the
1830s it had become merely a small decorative half-moon shaped plate
suspended from the collar by cords or ribbons attached to two buttons.
In the course of time the patch of cloth, button and small cord which
had supported the gorget became in themselves a distinction, to be worn on
the collar in a variety of colours to indicate the wearer’s position on the Staff,
and were commonly called ‘staff tabs’.
Today they are still worn, in scarlet, by full colonels and brigadiers
(with a central line of silk gimp in the same colour as the patch) and by
generals (with a central line of gold oak-leaf embroidery). Senior officers in the
Medical Corps wear a dull cherry patch, Chaplains Department wears purple,
and Dental Corps have burnt orange.
A colonel’s gorget patches
26
The Pace Stick
The Royal Regiment of Artillery was the originator of the pace stick. It
was used by gunners to ensure correct distances between guns on the battle
field, thus ensuring the appropriate effective fire.
The original stick was more like a walking stick, with a silver or ivory
knob. It could not be manipulated like the modern pace stick as it only opened
like a pair of callipers; the infantry then developed the stick to its present
configuration as an aid to drill.
The original stick used by the gunners and the current pace stick
Canes
Swagger sticks were introduced as an item of commissioned rank
equipment in the time of King Charles I (early 17th century) but were used for a
much more serious purpose than they are today. At that time all junior officers
were empowered to inflict punishment on soldiers for minor offences.
Misdemeanours such as sneezing in the ranks, spitting or scratching one’s
head earned immediate punishment to the tune of twelve strokes across the
back.
The item is now an optional piece of equipment that may be carried
by officers, warrant officers and senior NCOs. In the majority of cases officers
carry a leather covered cane whilst the canes of warrant officers and senior
NCOs are either wood or bamboo.
27
A senior NCO with his cane
Swords
There are four types of sword in use within the Australian Army.
They are the swords worn by generals, the cavalry sabre, and the artillery and
the infantry swords.
The general’s sword or, to use its correct title, the Mameluke sword,
is a simple design with no pommel (the knob of the sword’s hilt or handle). It is
a copy of the Turkish or Egyptian ‘shamshir’, a curved slashing cavalry sword.
Mamelukes were a group of Turkish soldiers romanticised in Victorian
England; hence the association of the name with the design.
The cavalry sabre worn by the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and
the Australian Army Aviation Corps is the British Army’s 1912 model. This
design, with a fully enclosed ‘bowl’ guard, was seen as the best between the cut
and the thrust type sabres.
The Gunner’s sword was introduced into the Royal Artillery in 1788.
The Royal Horse Artillery thought the infantry sword of the day was too heavy
and was “... good neither for cut nor thrust ...’;2 however, the Light Cavalry
pattern sword was preferred due to its”... impetus to the slash as the mounted
man flanked past his quarry’.3 The 1822 Light Cavalry sword incorporated a
three bar hilt which assisted in making the sword even lighter. The sword
underwent some more changes in 1850. The blade of the sword is slightly
curved.
28
2.
D. Alastair Campbell The Dress of the Royal Artillery p.93
3.
Brian Robson Swords of the British Army p.150
The current Infantry sword is the British Infantry pattern of 1895.
The blade has a flat back and an even taper to the cutting edge, so that it is in
the form of a wedge.
The sword knot, or leather loop, hangs free on the Cavalry and the
Artillery swords; the user would slip the strap over his hand and wrap it
around his wrist so that he would not drop and lose the sword whilst in use.
The infantry found the dangling knot inconvenient so it was wrapped around
the guard to keep it out of the way.
The handles of military swords are covered in shark skin. The skin
was introduced because it is a non-slip material and thus ensured that the
user didn’t lose his grip when both his hand and the weapon became covered
in blood.
A general officer and his Mameluke Sword
A Cavalry Sabre
An Artillery Sword
29
An Infantry Sword
Unit Colour Patches
It is thought that the unique Australian Army system of colour
patches may have been inspired through the South African Boer War
(1899-1902) where some British Army units wore small cloth patches in
colours or tartans, appropriate to their regiments, on the pugarees of their pith
helmets. In late 1914 an AIF Order provided small flags, nine inches square (23
cm), to be used to mark headquarters and unit lines. These different coloured
flags, with some minor changes, were to become the basis of the 1st Division’s
colour patches.
A 1st Division Order issued in Egypt in March 1915 stated: ‘In order
to better distinguish the several units of the Division, coloured patches of
cloth.......will be worn on the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. Except
in cases of Headquarters of Brigades and the Divisional Artillery, the
Engineers and Army Medical Corps, badges will consist of two colours, the
lower indicating the formation, the upper the unit etc. Light Horse (4th Light
Horse) and Artillery will be divided diagonally, the others horizontally’.4 Later
the same year a Divisional Standing Order amended the patch detail for the
gunners to one patch for all Divisional artillery.
Each brigade within the Division was allocated an identifying colour
patch, and this system was then extended to other organisations within the
Division. The patches within the Division were worn at the top of both sleeves
4.
30
The Australian Army Colour Patch Register 1915-1949 p. 2-1
of the uniform and, as other divisions of the AIF were formed, they too were
allocated distinctive divisional shape patches. Overall about 300 colour
patches were authorised for the Army in World War I.
At the outbreak of World War II, and with the raising of the 2nd AIF,
it appears that many newly raised units may have initially been authorised to
adopt the patches of their numerical forebears of the Great War but some units
just went ahead and did so without authority. This resulted in a significant
number of units, particularly the infantry battalions, wearing colour patches
completely unrelated to those of their 1st AIF namesakes. This problem was
corrected in late 1940 with the issue of an appropriate instruction.
The colour patches of World War II were backed by a grey border and
as the War continued new shapes came into being; for example, the T-shaped
patches of units within the 9th Division in 1943 (which commemorated the
major part played by the Division in the siege of Tobruk). By the end of 1944
some 800 colour patches had been introduced into the Army during the War. A
small number of patches were also approved for units of the British
Commonwealth Occupation Force for Japan in both 1945 and 1946. The
Australian colour patch system was discarded in 1949 in favour of the British
Army style of shoulder titles.
The colour patch was re-introduced into the Army in 1987 and the
British Army style shoulder title was phased out by the end of 1996. Units
which could trace their lineage back to either World War I or World War II were
granted permission to adopt the appropriate patch (some claims are, however,
somewhat shaky). These patches came to be referred to as the ‘Series I’ colour
patch system, as it was then decided to put patches on every unit and
organisation within the Army. In 1996 the ‘Series II’ patches came into service;
these were largely based on corps, and in some cases unit, colours. The colour
patches are no longer worn on both shoulders, as was the case in the past, but
are now positioned on the right-hand side of the pugaree on the ‘Slouch’ Hat.
A number of the patches of both World Wars were worn on the
shoulders as matched pairs; particularly those of the Royal Regiment of
Australian Artillery and the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. The patches
worn on both the left and the right shoulders looked the same from the front.
The patches seen on colour patch charts, or on flags, banners, signs or on
letter heads are the patches worn on the left shoulder and the ‘leading edge’ is
facing to the left as seen by the observer. However, the patches that were worn
on the right-hand side of the body were a ‘mirror image’ of that worn on the left.
This means that any ‘Series I’ patch, that has a ‘leading edge’, is (correctly)
worn on the hat ‘back-to-front’ to that seen on charts and signs etc (there is no
‘leading edge’ with the ‘Series II’ patches).
31
A member of Army Headquarters and
his (Series I) colour patch
Stable Belts
Stable Dress in the British Army was worn by both the cavalry and
the Royal Artillery for stable duties. It was a simplified working dress with a
cap and a loose fitting jacket and trousers (usually made out of a coarse
material such as canvas). The Stable Belt was introduced as a practical item to
keep up the trousers. The buckles were worn over the left hip so as not to
scratch and annoy the horse whilst being groomed.
In time the belt was adopted by other corps incorporating coloured
stripes with regimental and corps patterns. It is thought that perhaps the
coloured girdles worn before World War I may have been the inspiration for the
design. The belts became very popular in the British Army during the 1950s,
as a colourful item of dress on what was then a very drab uniform.
The belt was adopted by the Australian Army in the late 1970s and
went out of service at the end of 1995.
32
A Gunner officer wearing the RAA stable belt
33
34
Ceremonial Traditions of the Australian Army
CHAPTER 3
The Parade Ground
After a battle, when retreat was sounded and the unit had
re-assembled to call the roll and count the dead, a hollow square was formed.
The dead were placed within the square and no one used this area as a
thoroughfare. Today the parade ground represents this square, and is
symbolic of a sanctuary for a unit’s dead. It is deemed to be Hallowed Ground,
soaked with the blood of the fallen, and the area is respected as such.
The parade ground at the Royal Military College Duntroon
Holding Ground
The correct terminology for ‘Holding Ground’ is ‘Troops Keeping the
Ground’. Today on many unit ceremonial occasions the corners of the parade
ground have troops in position ‘holding ground’. These soldiers may be
equipped with anything from lances to mortars, or even field guns, all facing
out. The role of these troops is to ‘secure the area’, thereby allowing the unit on
parade to ‘safely perform’ its ceremonial duties.
The tradition dates back to the British Hollow Square (the ‘square’
was just that, a fighting unit lined up in a four-sided formation with a hollow
centre; the troops being lined up, shoulder-to-shoulder, three to four ranks
deep). When the troops were resting lines of picquets were placed out, at
sufficient distances to give early warning of pending attacks, thereby allowing
the battalion or regiment time to regroup and fight off the approaching enemy.
35
Feu-de-Joie
The ceremony of the Feu-de-Joie originated in a demonstration of a
new weapon before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I. The new matchlock musket
had just been adopted as a more ‘reliable and handy’ weapon than the
cumbersome, then current, wheel-lock piece. The musketeers, having
completed the long and intricate procedures of loading their weapons, placed
their forked rests in place and awaited the order to fire a volley. The order was
given but the volley did not happen; the matchlock mechanisms only produced
a ragged series of bangs, one after another, up and down the line of troops. The
Queen was far from happy and gave her opinion in some rather strong
language which made many wish that they were somewhere else.
In time Her Majesty changed her mind, as women are inclined to do,
and suggested that the rippled firing be incorporated into a military activity. To
ensure an unbroken ripple of fire along the line, troops were formed-up into
three ranks, the second rank firing should the soldier in the front rank fail to
‘make fire’; if both failed the third rank came into action. This procedure
continued until the introduction of the flintlock, a weapon which was
sufficiently reliable to ensure an unbroken chain of fire along the ranks.
The new ceremony was given the title ‘Joy Sound’; the French Army
also adopted the concept for festive occasions and gave it the name
Feu-de-Joie. Today it is often seen at ceremonies such as birthday parades and
at times it has been performed by units of the Royal Regiment of Australian
Artillery using 105mm howitzers.
The firing of a Feu-de-Joie
36
The 21 Gun Salute
From the earliest days, noise has been used to express joy or to
honour esteemed personalities. Even today crowds and audiences still show
their approval by shouting, cheering and applauding. Military bodies,
however, traditionally express such sentiment with fanfares and gun salutes.
The gun salute appears to have originated in the early 14th century
and there seem to have been two reasons for it. The first would be for the
making of noise to do honour to an important guest. The second was the
emptying of guns by firing. This was considered a friendly and trusting
gesture, as once fired the guns could not be reloaded easily and quickly; hence
an honour was bestowed upon the visitor. It was a sign that the visitor was
trusted and considered an ally. One would assume that all pieces were fired on
such occasions and hence the term GUN salute rather than ROUND salute.
The origin of the salute is one thing but no one knows why 21 guns
were selected. The reason has been lost with time and the custom was not
regulated by formal instruction until the early 19th century. It is interesting to
note that all salutes are fired with an odd number of guns; a practice possibly
related to a superstition of the times. Shakespeare wrote “They say there is
divinity in odd numbers ....I hope good luck lies in odd numbers”. In the early
days of gun salutes, the Royal Navy fired even numbers for funerals whilst odd
numbers were fired for the living.
One theory for the origin of the odd numbers comes from the Royal
Navy. Warships carried even nnumbers of guns (in equal numbers on each
side of the ship), however, from the gun decks the approaching personage
could not be seen, so a poop deck gun was fired by a sentry as a signal for the
commencement of the salute. The explanation for the use of odd numbers of
guns on land is that the first gun fired was a station time gun which was fired
at midday, the same time as salutes generally commenced.
The first formal regulations for salutes were developed by the Royal
Navy in 1688 but these only dealt with naval officers. The regulations
stipulated 11 guns for a captain, increasing to 19 guns for an admiral. No
mention was made of Royalty, but the mathematical progression would lead
one to assume that the next rank would warrant a salute of 21.
In 1827 the Board of Ordnance issued a circular ordering 21
chambers to be fired for Royal Salutes from St James’ Park and 21 guns and 41
chambers from the Tower of London (a chamber was a small piece of ordnance,
without a carriage, used for firing salutes). It appears that the Royal Salutes for
the accession to the throne by George IV, William IV, and Victoria were 41 guns
“fired at all stations at home and abroad”.1 The 41 gun salute still remains in
force today as the Royal Salute fired from London’s Hyde Park and the 21 guns
and 41 chambers of the Tower salutes have resulted in the unique 62 gun
salute which is the current Royal Salute fired from the Tower of London.
1.
Order-in-Council dated 1838
37
An enquiry was held into salutes in 1830 and it was agreed to fix the
number of guns for a Royal Salute to 21 (during the enquiry both the
Director-General and the Adjutant-General of Artillery noted that “there is no
known principle on which salutes vary”2). The result was the 1838 Order of
Council Regulations which stipulated the use of 21 guns, except for salutes
fired from St James’ Park (which was later changed to Hyde Park in 1923) and
the Tower.
A number of origins have been suggested with regard to the number
of guns fired but enquiries in 1899 discussed these and then dismissed them
as “fable” and “popular superstition”.3
The question cannot be settled and never will be; no one knows why
21 guns are fired for a Royal Salute. There are, however, special occasions
when more than 21 guns may be fired. Jubilees are an example and so too are
funerals; 56 minute gun rounds were fired for the late King George VI in 1952,
one for each year of his life.
A battery firing an artillery salute
The Salute
The exact origin of the military salute has been lost in time but it is
believed that it probably originated by showing that the right hand (the fighting
hand) was not concealing a weapon. Another line of thought is that when
men-at-arms took to wearing armour, the approaching generals or king would
ride forward and, holding the reins of the horse with the left hand, they would
raise the visor with the right to identify each other.
When a knight or a king wanted to raise an army he would ride
around his people to enlist men-at-arms. Only free men were allowed to bear
arms and they would show their availability by looking their king or knight in
the eyes (a serf or slave had to bow his head and eyes toward the ground).
38
2.
P.R. Woodmore Royal Salutes by Guns (Gunner Magazine 1952
3.
Order-in-Council dated 1899
Today this custom is carried out as the Eyes Right on the ceremonial march
past and when a marching body of troops pass by an officer.
The protocol of paying compliments to armed bodies of troops
(Armed Corps or Armed Party) aalso goes back hundreds of years. If a lone
soldier did not stand fast for a passing body of armed troops and declare his
allegiance, the party would assume him to be hostile and treat him
accordingly.
The sword salute was reminiscent of the Crusader days when the
knight kissed the hilt of the sword before entering the conflict. The hilt
represented the Cross and the motions of the salute roughly described a Cross.
Today some of the motions of the salute have been omitted but the ‘Recover’ is
still symbolic of kissing the Cross.
Whilst drills change with the introduction of new weapons, the rifle
salute of today is still based on a drill where the salute was the first motion of
present arms. A sentry’s salute to an officer of field rank (major to colonel) and
above was, and still is, a full salute with the weapon, the ‘present arms’. Junior
officers received the preliminary movement only, hence the rifle, or ‘butt
salute’.
The hand salute
39
The present arms
The sword salute
The “butt” salute
40
Present Arms
On his return from France to England in 1660 to claim the throne,
King Charles II was confronted by Colonel Monks’ Coldstream Regiment. Upon
accepting the allegiance of the Regiment (see: Inspections) a command of
‘Present your weapons for service under His Majesty’ was given. Every man in
the Unit held forward his musket or pike at arms length and at the ‘high port’
position. The order ‘Ground your weapons’ was given, followed by ‘In His
Majesty’s cause, recover your weapons’.
The King was so pleased with the ceremony of surrendering weapons
into his service that he ordered the ‘Present Arms’ to be a feature of all future
inspections as a mark of respect.
Point Of War
The Colours of a unit were usually positioned in the place from which
the battle was controlled, normally the centre, whatever the formation might
be. This was the nerve centre of what would today be a battalion or company
headquarters.
If an enemy could attack the nerve centre successfully, the battle
would largely be lost. It was often the enemy’s intention to strike at and seize
the Colours in order to destroy the unit’s sense of cohesion and thereby to
cause alarm and loss of confidence.
Every unit took into battle its drummers, buglers (although these
were not introduced until late in the 18th century), fifers (who in the 16th
century were known by the expressive word “whiffers”, which is the old form of
the word “whistlers”) and any other musician who might make up the band.
Upon an attack developing, the commanding officer would order the
various instruments to be beaten or blown as loud as their players could
manage. Thus the attention of the unit was drawn to the fact that danger
threatened the nerve centre, and counter-measures could be employed. This
tradition was carried on after the practice of carrying Colours in battle ceased
and the playing of ‘Point of war’ is used today as a salute to the Colours when
they are into position on a parade after having marched on, or before they are
marched off.
Inspections
Many of the ceremonies and customs that play an important part in
army life have an origin which would hardly be suspected from the manner in
which they are performed today. Take, for example, the familiar ceremony of
Inspection of the Guard of Honour. The inspecting officer arrives and passes
along the ranks, in some cases seemingly displaying very little interest in the
soldiers he is inspecting. Actually, the ceremony originated in circumstances
which compelled the inspecting officer not only to make a close scrutiny of
every man’s face, but to be ready for an attempt on his life at any moment as he
passed along the ranks.
41
When King Charles II returned to England to claim the throne, one of
the late Cromwell’s superb cavalry regiments decided to switch its allegiance to
the King. The regiment was encamped at Reading and on hearing that His
Majesty had landed, the Commanding Officer dispatched one of his squadrons
to meet the King and beg leave to serve under the Crown.
In a desolate, uninhabited stretch of country, one of the royal
courtiers, riding alongside the coach, observed a body of strange troops
approaching and at once told the King. As he was not yet sure of the reception
he would receive from the populace he instructed a number of his suite to ride
forward and ascertain the intentions of the column.
When contact was made, the Squadron Commander explained the
purpose of his mission. The King was not a little suspicious, but a lack of
courage was not one of his faults. Leaving his coach, and accompanied by only
one attendant, he strode forward to the Squadron drawn up on the side of the
road. Charles passed slowly along the ranks, keenly scrutinising each man’s
face to determine his attitude from his facial expression. Satisfied with his
inspection, Charles accepted the Squadron Commander’s offer of allegiance
and ordered him to act as his escort on the journey to London.
A little later another unit of ex-Cromwellian troops, Colonel Monks’
Coldstream Regiment, begged permission to enter the King’s service. On
Blackheath Common, Charles subjected them to the same close scrutiny
before accepting them as members of the Royalist Army.
In making these inspections King Charles little knew that he was
establishing a custom that was to endure through the centuries, though it has
long ceased to be performed with any vestige of its original purpose.
Incidentally, the two Units mentioned passed into the King’s service
and in time became known as the Royal Horse Guards and the Coldstream
Guards respectively.
The reviewing officers’ inspection of a parade
42
Advance In Review Order
Prior to 1788 the tactical training of infantry units was mainly left to
the individual commander’s discretion, there being little guidance from
superiors. This had obvious disadvantages, namely the capability of each unit
was developed (or not), according to an individual commander’s skill,
forethought and thoroughness. Likewise, the task of a general in the field was
made more difficult by not knowing the relative capabilities and methods of his
units.
In 1788 a manual was produced by one David Dundas, which laid
down in detail eighteen manoeuvres to be carried out by all infantry units.
These manoeuvres were designed to combat, in the most effective manner
possible, the tactical moves of an enemy both in attack and in defence.
Eventually they became outmoded and were referred to by Sir John Moore as
“Those damned eighteen manoeuvres”4 but at the time they met a long felt
need. Those units most practised in the manoeuvres, able to carry them out
expeditiously and with intelligence, became the most formidable and were the
foundation of the supremacy of the British Infantry on the Continent. Every
unit had to perform these manoeuvres each year before a reviewing general in
order that their efficiency and preparedness might be judged.
As an enemy was finally defeated by offensive action, the eighteenth
manoeuvre was the attack in line and consisted of an advance followed by a
volley to the right and a volley to the left, with a further advance followed by two
volleys to the front. At the annual review the Colours were then brought to the
front, the unit advanced fifty paces and finished the review by presenting arms
to signify that the manoeuvres had ended and that they had been carried out
with no offensive spirit towards the reviewing general. It is this last manoeuvre
which is nowadays, as part of a great tradition, known as the Advance in
Review Order.
Consistent with its origins, the Advance in Review Order, is usually
the last movement of the parade prior to dispersal. The Colours are in the
centre where the whole attack was controlled by the commander and are
brought to the front out of the ranks before the final phase. Therefore the
troops dressing is on the centre; the men having to maintain their alignment in
order that the enemy, trying to drive a wedge in the line, would have to cope
with at least two men at a time, one on either side of him, as opposed to one if
the dressing were lost. It was done in two or more ranks so that any gaps in
front caused by casualties could be sealed immediately from behind and the
line preserved. RRanks were in the open order position so that, when the
volleys were fired, the leading rank could lie down, the second rank kneel, and
the third, if there was one, could stand. The extent of the advance was
controlled from the centre and broadcast along the lines by beating drums,
thus accomplishing three major tasks. Firstly it signified the start and finish of
the advance; secondly, the rate of the advance, in order that the long line might
not waver; and thirdly, the progress of the battle, for it should be remembered
that, in the swirl and dust of battle, the Colours might not easily be seen.
4.
Infantry Centre Military Traditions and Customs p. 4-1
43
Therefore, any change in tempo of the drums would immediately strike the
senses, with the result that all would know that the centre was threatened and
be prepared for counter measures.
Colours
Colours are a symbol of the spirit of a unit, for on them are borne the
battle honours and badges granted to the unit in commemoration of some of
the gallant deeds performed by its members and the association of Colours
with heroic deeds has caused them to be regarded with veneration. In a sense
they are the epitome of the history of the unit. The full history of a unit is
contained in written records but as these are not portable in a convenient form
the Colours, emblazoned with distinctions for long and honourable service, are
something in the nature of a silken history, the sight of which creates a feeling
of pride and espirit in soldiers and ex-soldiers.
To trace the origin of the custom of carrying Colours one must go
back to the days of early man when he fixed his family ‘badge’ to a pole and
held it aloft in battle for the dual purpose of indicating his position in the
action and as a rallying point should the need arise. Caesar’s troops marched
behind the Roman eagle vexilloid and medieval chivalry followed the same idea
when they placed their armorial bearings on their banners so that they would
‘float on high’ well above the melee. When armies were beginning to adopt a
system of regimentation at the start of the 17th century, each company was
allotted a Colour, a custom which persisted for a hundred years. In 1661
during the reign of Charles II, when the British Army as we know it today first
began to take shape, the number of Colours carried by a unit was reduced to
three to correspond with the technical arrangements of a battalion for battle. A
Royal Warrant dated 13th February of that year accordingly authorized the
newly raised Foot Guards to have twelve stands of Colours.
An attempt to standardise a practice of producing Colours peculiar
to a particular regiment was made in 1689 but it was not until September 1743
that a Royal Warrant decreed the practice of each battalion having only two
Colours, a practice that exists to this day. Another Royal Warrant of the time
made it clear that a regiment, though still in some respects the colonel’s own
possession, was part of the King’s Army.
The order further stated that of the two Colours to be carried, the
first or King’s Colour as it was soon called, was to be the Greater Union (the
Union Jack). The second, or Regimental Colour, was to be of the same colours
as that particular regiment’s facing, with the Union in the upper canton
(except in the case of those regiments whose facings were either red or white,
then the Colour was to be white with a red cross of Saint George over its entire
surface, having a small Union in the upper canton).
Those regiments which had the privilege of bearing Royal devices
were to have the number of the regiment placed towards the upper corner. The
Colours at this time, and for a hundred years after, were very large, fully five
feet (1.5 metres) ‘on the pike’ and six feet (1.8 metres) ‘on the fly’, as opposed to
modern Colours which are three feet (.9 of a metre) ‘on the pike’ and three feet
nine inches (1.1 metres) ‘on the fly’; in other words: three feet by three feet nine
inches.
44
Those regiments whose duty it was to skirmish ahead of the main
body, where speed and concealment were essential, did not carry Colours.
These were rifle regiments, which is the reason why today in the British Army
they do not carry Colours (yet Australian rifle regiments do). In the cavalry the
counterparts of rifle units are the lancers and the hussars and they do not
carry Standards or Guidons for the same reason.
Pre-1969 Queen’s Colour
(The Royal South Australia Regiment)
Post-1969 Queen’s Colour
(2nd Battalion, The Royal
Australian Regiment)
The Foot Guards observe a custom which dates back to the new
model of the Commonwealth. In those 17th century days the field officers of a
regiment were the colonel, the lieutenant colonel and the sergeant-major
(today’s major) and each of these officers had a company. The colonel’s Colour
was ‘plain’ (ie. it had no devices upon it to denote the rank); the lieutenant
colonel’s Colour was basically the same as the colonel’s except that it had a
small Saint George’s Cross in the upper canton nearest the pike-head; the
sergeant-major’s was similar to that of the lieutenant colonel’s but it had a ‘pile
wavy’ in gold issuing from the lower inner corner of the Saint George’s Cross.
These distinctions are still observed in the Queen’s Colours of the 1st, 2nd,
and the 3rd Battalions respectively of the Foot Guards.
When carried into battle the Colours were positioned in the centre of
the front rank where they could be easily seen and recognized, and they could
act as both a guide and a rallying point. There is no doubt that their presence
in battle had a significant morale effect. The Colours were carried in companies
and they were borne by the youngest officers whose rank was ensign (the
company officers in those days were a captain, a lieutenant and a number of
ensigns and when the two Colours of a regiment were carried the duty of
bearing them was divided among the ensigns).
45
As the importance of a victory was generally gauged by the number of
guns and stands of Colours that were captured, the Colour Party became an
obvious target and hence the scenes of the most bitter hand-to-hand fighting.
This resulted in a very high rate of mortality amongst the ensigns because as
one fell another ensign would pick up the Colour and carry on. With the aim of
giving the ensigns some local protection the rank of colour sergeant was
introduced in 1813.
The escort to the Colour was formed by five colour sergeants. They
were chosen from the senior and the bravest sergeants as they had to stand,
armed only with half-pikes, in the most exposed places in the fields of battle.
The practice of carrying Colours in battle gradually came to an end after 1879
when two subalterns of the South Wales Borderers received posthumous
Victoria Crosses for their endeavours to save the Regiment’s Colours at the
Battle of Isandhlwana. Some historians state that they were last carried by the
58th Regiment of Foot (later 2nd Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment)
in action on 26th January 1881 at Laings Nek during the First Boer War,
whilst it is also quoted that the 38th Regiment of Foot carried them at the
Bombardment of Alexandria in 1882.
In the past, the Colour Party was expected to fight to the death to
defend the Colours and for the same symbolic reason the Colours are paraded
in the centre of the regiment or battalion when on the march, and not at its
head. A different custom exists in the cavalry; as their battles were fought
around a fixed spot marked by the Colours their Standard was carried by an
NCO, the sergeant-major, and was unprotected.
Today in the Australian Army the battalions of infantry regiments
and the Corps of Staff Cadets each carry two Colours, the Queen’s (King’s)
Colour and the Regimental Colour. The Queen’s Colour of every battalion in
the Australian Army was the Union Jack. In the centre of the Colour there was
a crimson circle surmounted by the Imperial Crown and upon the circle,
inscribed in gold, the gazetted title of the regiment; within the circle, in Arabic
numbers, was the battalion number.
In regiments titled Royal, the base colour for the Regimental Colour
is dark blue and for other regiments it is dark green. The Colour bears a device,
centrally placed, comprising the regimental badge or crest, embroidered in
gold or silver as appropriate, on a crimson background. The badge or crest
itself is modified by omission of the title of the regiment, the regimental motto
and any wreath or crown incorporated in the design. A crimson circle
surrounds the badge or crest upon which is inscribed, in gold, the gazetted
title of the battalion.
The centre device is encompassed within a wreath (in the case of
Australian Colours it is a wreath of wattle) which is tied with a gold knot at the
bottom centre, and the whole is surmounted with the Crown. In addition the
motto of the regiment (embroidered in gold on a crimson scroll) may also
appear on a Colour, along with the regimental colour patch (without the grey
background).
The design of the badge or crest for inclusion in the Regimental
Colour is normally, but not always, based on the head-dress badge. The
normal badge or crest may already incorporate the gazetted or territorial title,
the regimental motto and a wreath and/or Crown. The wreath and the Crown
46
are common to all Colours and the titles are inscribed on a scroll borne below
the knot of the wreath. To avoid duplication the badge or crest appearing in the
centre device of the Colour is modified by deletion of these items.
The number of the battalion, embodied in gold, is placed in the top
corner near the pike. Arabic numerals are used for single battalion regiments
and Roman numerals for multi-battalion regiments (eg. 5 for the 5th Battalion,
the Victorian Scottish Regiment, and III for the 3rd Battalion, the Royal
Australian Regiment).
The authorized Battle Honours of a regiment are embodied, in black
lettering, on gold scrolls and are felled onto the Colour. The order and position
of the Honours on the Colour is as prescribed by Army Headquarters.
Prior to Federation some units of the Colonies of Australia were
presented with Colours. These Colours were of varied designs and not always
in accordance with British Regulations. There is evidence that eighteen
colonial units received Colours, the first being the Royal Victoria Yeomanry
Cavalry in 1858 and the last the Perth Company of the West Australia Rifle
Volunteers in 1896.
In 1920, silk Union Flags (which were to receive all honours and
compliments paid to Colours) were presented to sixty battalions of infantry,
the five pioneer battalions and the thirteen Light Horse regiments (that fought
as infantry) of the 1st AIF. Most of the Colours which were presented to the
infantry battalions were later converted to King’s Colours by having the
crimson circle and Crown added to them. The Colours presented to the Light
Horse regiments were not permitted to be carried on parade after the
introduction (to the Australian Army) of Guidons in 1927 but they were
retained by the regiments as “Honourable Insignia” for ‘services rendered’.5
The first unit to receive Colours after Federation was the 1st
Battalion, the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment in May 1906. The Colours were
a gift from the Women’s Branch of the British Empire League but they were
presented without Royal approval. It was not until 1911 that Royal consent
was granted for units of the Australian Military Forces to carry Guidons and
Colours.
The re-organisation of infantry battalions in 1921 and the
re-allocation and changes to unit designation and titles necessitated changes
in the design of both the King’s and the Regimental Colours. All battalions
possessed a King’s Colour but few had a Regimental Colour. The changes
consisted of substituting the territorial title of the unit with the gazetted
numeral title and replacing the regimental badge with the World War I colour
patch.
In 1960 the Citizens’ Military Forces (now the Army Reserve) was
re-organised into State Regiments and as these regiments were now titled
Royal Regiments they were entitled to blue Regimental Colours. Previously
there had only been one Royal unit within the reserve, the 6th Infantry
Battalion, the Royal Melbourne Regiment.
5.
Alfred N. Festberg Australian Army Guidons and Colours p. 53
47
A Regimental Colour (2nd Battalion,
The Royal Australian Regiment)
In 1969 Her Majesty the Queen approved the design of the Queen’s
Colour based on the Australian National Flag. The first unit to receive this new
design was the Royal Military College Duntroon on 27th April 1970 and it was
presented by Her Majesty the Queen during her Australian Tour of that year.
All Queen’s Colours presented since have been of this design.
The guns of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery are the
Regiment’s Colours. The rallying point for the gunners has always been the
guns; the gunners are instilled with the tradition of serving their guns under
fire and to abandon them intact is still the ultimate disgrace. Centuries ago the
largest gun in an artillery train carried the equivalent of today’s Queen’s
Colour and it was known as the ‘Colour’ or ‘Flag Gun’. In the latter part of the
18th century this practice ceased and the guns themselves became the
Colours.
All guns are the Colours, be they a regiment’s worth (eighteen guns),
a battery (six pieces) or a section, which in some cases can be one gun. The
Artillery’s Colours are accorded the same compliments and respect as Infantry
Colours and the Armoured Corps’ Standards and Guidons. The barrels of the
guns manufactured in both Australia and Great Britain bear a cypher; this
practice originated as a method of indicating that the piece had passed
manufacturing inspection and is not related to the guns being the Colours.
48
Standards and Guidons
Standards and Guidons are the Armoured Corps’ equivalent of
Colours. Standards were only carried by heavy horse units and today they are
carried by heavy armour units (in Australia the only unit to carry a Standard is
the 1st Armoured Regiment); Guidons are, in the main, carried by light
armoured organisations. For a unit to receive a Standard it must first have had
a Guidon for 25 years and have been on operational service.
The Guidon was considered an easy item to carry due to its small
size, and because its swallow-tailed fly allowed it to fly free easily. The heavy
units removed the tail making the Standard more square shaped and thereby
easily distinguishing them from the light regiments. Within the Armoured
Corps, units with Standards take the right of the line on parade over units with
Guidons.
In 1913 approval was granted for the Light Horse regiments of the
Australian Army to possess and carry Guidons but it was not until 1926 that
the Military Board published instructions (Instruction A 120) which laid down
the design details, with the first presentations being made to units in 1927.
The Instructions were later amended to authorize armoured units which had
converted from Light Horse regiments to carry a Guidon also. Both Standards
and Guidons, like Colours, carry Battle Honours.
1st Armoured Regiment Standard
49
The Guidon of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment
Battle Honours
The first Battle Honour or Honorary Distinction as it was correctly
called, was awarded in the British Army to the 18th Royal Irish Regiment by
King William III for its service at the siege of Namur (Belgium; the War of the
Grand Alliance) in 1695. Thereafter the custom of granting Honours became
more common. All the regiments which took part in the defence of Gibraltar
during the Great Siege of 1779-83 were allowed to bear the title GIBRALTAR.
As Battle Honours were gradually introduced, they were placed on clothing
and other appointments such as drums, as well as the Colours.
A maximum of ten of the Battle Honours awarded prior to the Great
War, and all of those won in the War, are emblazoned on the Regimental
Colour. A maximum of eleven Battle and Theatre Honours won during the
Second World War are authorized to be emblazoned on the Queen’s Colour. For
post World War II there is no limit to the number of Honours that may be
placed on a Regimental Colour and once that Colour is full any additional
Honours may be emblazed on the Queen’s Colour.
Honour Titles are not to be confused with Battle Honours; they are
an artillery term and may be granted to units within the Royal Regiment of
Australian Artillery.
50
The Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion
The Royal Australian Regiment showing both
the Regiment’s Battle Honours and the United
States of America Meritorious Unit
Commendation (Army), the Americans’
equivalent to Battle Honours
Banners
The custom of presenting Banners to Australian Army units started
with the presentation of twenty King’s Banners in 1904 for service in the Boer
War. The Banners were presented by King Edward VII to eighteen Light Horse
regiments, the Royal Australian Artillery, and the Australian Army Medical
Corps; a further twenty-three of these Banners were presented to infantry
units in 1911. It was stipulated that the Banners presented to the non-infantry
units were not ‘King’s Colours’ but, ‘...Honourable Insignia presented (by King
Edward VII) as a special mark of favour in recognition of valuable services
rendered in South Africa during the 1899-1902 war, and that Honorary
Distinctions are not to be borne on the Banners’.6
There are currently three types of Banners within the Australian
Army. They are the Sovereign’s Banner which may be presented to any corps or
unit including those with Colours; Banners presented by other members of the
Royal Family (these may be presented to any corps which does not have an
entitlement to Standards, Guidons, or Colours); and the Governor-General’s
Banner for training establishments which do not possess a Colour.
Banners are accorded the same respect and compliments as the
Queen’s Colours.
6.
Ibid p.22
51
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery’s
Banner of Queen Elizabeth II (Obverse)
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery’s
Banner of Queen Elizabeth II (Reverse)
52
Consecrating the Colours
Before a regiment’s Colours are taken into use they are consecrated
at a special religious ceremony. Battle flags have been closely associated with
religion from the earliest times. The Israelites carried the sacred standard of
the Maccabees, which bore the initial letters of the Hebrew text “who is like
unto thee O Lord the Gods” (Exodus XVII). In the armies of pagan Rome the
ensigns were worshipped with religious adoration. Pope Alexander II blessed a
banner which William the Conqueror carried at Hastings and at the Battle of
the Standard in 1138. The banners of St Peter of York, St John of Beverly and
St Wilfred of Ripon were erected upon a wagon and moved with the Archbishop
of York and his Yeomen of Yorkshire when they fought the Scottish clansmen.
The ceremony of Consecrating the Colours originated in the Middle
Ages when there were no national standing armies, each nobleman
maintaining his own private army for the protection of his land holdings.
For purposes of identification each of these armed bands carried a
banner on which was featured the personal coat of arms of its noble
commander. When a male member of the family reached the age at which he
was entitled to be knighted he was ceremoniously presented with a sword and
spurs by the head of the family. In the presence of all armed retainers, he was
also presented with a small replica of the family banner, termed a bannerette,
which, with much solemnity, was first blessed and consecrated by the local
priest before being given to him.
When, with the passage of time, these armed bands were merged into
a national army controlled by a central authority of which the reigning
Monarch was the head, the ceremony of consecrating the banner was retained
but with the difference that the “Colours” now represented regimental rather
than family honour.
In the British Museum is a 14th century manuscript detailing the
form of service for blessing flags, and in 1634 it stipulated that the first thing a
captain shall do is “to cause his Colour to be blest”.7
Regimental histories contain evidence of the consecration of Colours
in the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries but it was not until 1830 that
the question of standardising the form of service arose. At that time the then
Principal Chaplain to the Forces, Dr Dakins, suggested a form but it does not
appear to have been brought into general use. The earliest reference to the
ceremony in official regulations appears to be in the Queen’s Regulations of
1867, wherein it was stated that a form of service could be procured from the
Chaplain-General’s office. In the 1899 Queen’s Regulations the ceremony is
referred to in greater detail and eventually forms of service were devised for use
by Protestant, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic regiments.
The reverential regard to Colours and their association with religion
secures for them, on retirement from active use, an appropriate resting place
7.
Infantry Centre Military Traditions and Customs p. 4-2
53
in a sacred edifice or public building where they will be preserved with due
regard to their symbolic significance and historic associations. This tradition is
The Consecrating of new Colours
also observed by the Australian Army.
Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour is derived from the Roman custom of parading
the Military’s crest (the Eagle) each night on coming into camp. The origin of
the ceremony of Trooping was concerned with the lodging of the Colour. As
early as the 16th century at least one company’s Colour was always placed in
safe keeping in the ensign’s quarters, or some other safe place, at the
conclusion of a day’s parade or, when on active service, after a day’s fighting.
By the 17th century the ceremony consisted of the Colour being displayed from
the ensign’s quarters and the battalion would march past so the men would
know, in case of alarm, the location of their rallying point.
The ceremony of Trooping the Colour (not ‘Trooping of the Colour’),
originated in 1755 and derives its name from the musical troop or tune which
was played during the ceremony of the lodging of the Colour. Over time the
name changed from ‘lodging’ to ‘trooping’. The Colour was now marched along
the lines of troops in slow time with the same aim, “to impress it upon the
soldiers’ memories, that they might always recognize it in battle and so know
their place and rallying point”.8
8.
54
Lawrence L. Gordon Military Origins p. 38
Trooping the Colour through the ranks
Laying Up of Colours
The fact that Colours have, from the early ages, been consecrated
would give them an aspect of sacredness which could not be wholly ignored
when consideration was given to their disposal. In view of the reverence paid
them whilst they are in service it is not surprising that care has been taken to
ensure that they ultimately repose in sacred edifices or other public buildings
where their preservation is ensured with due regard to their symbolic
significance and historic association.
Originally each leader of a body of troops provided his own Standard,
Guidon or Ensign and this was usually retained by him after a campaign or
when it was no longer serviceable.
Even after the inauguration of the Standing Army in England, the
colonel of the regiment provided the Colours and when these were retired he
disposed of them on behalf of the regiment. It was not until 1855 that the State
provided the Colours for line regiments. An instruction of 1881 stated that
“Unserviceable Colours, Standards or Guidons will, when replaced, be
disposed of as the officer commanding the regiment may deem fit”.9 This is an
indication that, although the State provided the Colours, they had not, at that
time, any wish to interfere with the ancient right of the colonel to dispose of his
Colours. As late as 1896 it is recorded that Colours were returned to the
colonel of the regiment.
There are many recorded incidents of Colours being buried with the
colonel of the regiment and one case where a unit being disbanded (2nd
Battalion Kings Regiment (8th Foot) - 1816) brought the Colours to the Officers
Mess at the conclusion of dinner where they were stripped, cut up so that each
officer obtained a piece and then burnt; the ashes of the Colours and pikes
9.
Infantry Centre Military Taditions and Customs p. 4-6
55
being buried in the centre of the parade ground and an armed sentry mounted
over them through the night.
The following appeared in the British Army Clothing Regulations of
1898: “When Standards, Guidons or Colours are replaced they remain the
property of the State, and should be deposited in some church or other public
building. If this is not practicable, officers commanding will submit, through
the usual channel, proposals for their disposal. No one is entitled to sell old
Standards, Guidons or Colours or to deal in them in any way”.10
King’s Regulations reprinted in 1945 contained the following: “Old
Standards, Guidons and Colours remain the property of the State. After
replacement they will be laid up in a church or other public building; they will
not otherwise be disposed of without War Office sanction. In no circumstances
will they be sold or allowed to pass into the possession of an individual. If the
donor of any Standard, Guidon or Colour has, at the time of presentation,
made any stipulation regarding its disposal that would conflict with the
foregoing instructions the matter will be referred to the War Office”.
Custom in the Australian Army is that Guidons or Colours will be
laid up in a place selected by the commanding officer in the case of an existing
unit, or by the last commanding officer or unit association in the case of a unit
not now on the Order of Battle. Selection of the place will be from one of the
following (in recommended order of preference); a local church, a church of the
State, a state war memorial, the Australian War Memorial, or a civic building.
It was formerly the practice that ‘laid up’ Colours could not be
removed from their resting place and taken back into service. This has now
been modified and the laid up Colours of disbanded or amalgamated units may
be retaken into service by those units should they be brought back onto the
Order of Battle and provided the Colours are deemed serviceable.
This aside, Colours, once laid-up, are left as they are and will, in
time, disintegrate (dust to dust); they should not be re-conditioned or
refurbished.
The ‘laying up of Colours’ is not to be confused with the practice of
depositing Colours for safe custody, such as on mobilisation.
Beat Retreat, Last Post, Tattoo and Reveille
There is often a good deal of confusion between Beating Retreat and
Tattoo. Retreat is the older custom and dates back to the 16th century when it
was known as Watch Setting.
Retreat consisted of prolonged drum-beating at sunset to warn the
night guard to mount and also to give notice to soldiers beyond the confines of
either the camp or the town walls, that the gates were about to close and that
they should return. This drill also signalled to civilians working in the fields
that it was time to come back to the safety of the garrison.
10.
56
Ibid p.4-6
The custom has its origins too in the days when fighting ceased at
sunset; the drum beats signalled that the fighting was over. The soldiers in the
main body of troops would fire three volleys of muskets (for troops who were far
spread and may not hear the drums) and a hymn would be played between the
volleys in honour of those who had fallen during the day. It was said too that
the volleys also ‘put to flight the evil spirits of departed soldiers’. It was during
this time of the evening that the Colour would be trooped; this drill is replaced
today by the lowering of the National Flag. It should be noted that the correct
terminology is “Beat Retreat” and not “Beat the Retreat”.
The ‘First Post’ and ‘Last Post’ came into being in the early part of the
19th century. The ‘First Post’ was sounded as the orderly officer, the orderly
sergeant and a drummer (with a bugle) started the Tattoo. They then marched
from post to post with the drummer beating his drum. Upon reaching the final
post the drummer would sound the ‘Last Post’; this is why drummers also
carry a bugle.
An alternative theory is that the Tattoo commenced at 9 o’clock, the
same time as the ‘warning piece’ (gun) sounded. Soldiers then had to be at
their beds by 9.30, ‘First Post’, where the orderly sergeant checked for
absentees, and by 10 o’clock, when the ‘Last Post’ sounded, the troops had to
be in bed. This was followed fifteen minutes later by ‘Lights Out’.
There is some conjecture over the origin of the word tattoo but in the
main it is agreed that the word is derived from the old Dutch expression ‘Doe
Den Tap Toe’ which freely translated into English is ‘turn off the taps’. The
word ‘Tap Toe’ was used in official books for a long time and gradually gave
place to the familiar word ‘Tattoo’. This ‘drum call’ was to get the soldiers back
to their billets by having the inn keepers turn off their beer taps and cease
selling liquor.
The ‘Last Post’ was really the end of the day (a hard day’s fighting and
a hard night’s drinking). This bugle call has been passed down through the
centuries in many countries of the world as an accompaniment to the
impressive rites of a soldier’s farewell where the closing bars wail out their sad
farewell to the departing warrior.
Reveille (from the French reveillez, meaning to ‘wake-up’, which in
turn came from the Latinvigilare, ‘watch’) was originally played as a drum beat
just prior to daybreak. Its two-fold purpose was to wake up the sleeping
soldiers and to let the sentries know that they could cease challenging. It was
also a signal to open the town gates and let out the horse guard, allowing them
to do a reconnaissance (clearing patrol) of the immediate area beyond the
walls.
57
Beating Retreat
The RSM’s Sword
The only time an RSM draws his sword is during the Trooping the
Colour ceremony. Between receiving the Colour from the Colour Bearer and
passing it to the Ensign, the RSM has his sword drawn; he returns the sword
at the completion of the trooping. The custom dates back to Waterloo. On
occasions when the ensign fell the RSM would draw his sword, then retrieve
and protect the Colour, until he could hand it over to a replacement ensign.
The RSM with his sword drawn
58
The Commanding Officer on the March Past
During the march past by a unit on parade the commanding officer,
having paid his compliments to the reviewing officer, falls out and positions
himself on the reviewer’s right. He remains at that position until after the
march past in quick time and then rejoins his men as the unit reforms on the
inspection line. This procedure dates back many centuries to the times when
the sovereign or the reviewing officer would make comments of the unit on
parade for the commanding officer to note.
The Senior Under Officer beside the dais during
the parade march past at RMC
59
Freedom of Entry
The tradition of Freedom of Entry to a city or shire stems from a
custom observed by British Regiments in marching through the City of
London.
The Fathers of the City of London claimed that they had the right to
forbid bodies of armed troops, when marching through the City precincts, to
do so with bayonets fixed, Colours flying and music playing. This claim was
based on an ‘ancient privilege’ which appears to have originated shortly after
CCharles II became King in 1660.
This custom has been adopted by many Australian cities and shires.
The privilege is only extended to military units; normally those which have had
a close association with the city or shire in question. Once ggranted, these
units then have the right to Exercise their Freedom of Entry.
A Freedom of Entry Scroll
60
Drum Head Service
Outdoor religious services were conducted for fighting men long
before armies were co-ordinated under the Crown and long before the advent of
bands into military units.
The most primitive recorded use of the drum indicates that its prime
purpose was to banish evil and undesirable spirits11. At a later stage it was
realized that the deep resonant note provided an ideal means of
communication between tribal groups over fairly considerable distances. As
civilisation developed, the drum was found to be useful for attracting attention
and for maintaining a regular rhythmic beat. Despite its modern usage, the
drum has never entirely lost its reputation as a pagan instrument. Hence in
the church drums have never been widely associated with religious music;
therefore the piling of drums during a religious service, which dates back to the
17th century, was seen as a means of ensuring that the drums could not be
beaten during the service.
The drums of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment’s
Pipes and Drums are black (so too is the Battalion’s lanyard). This is the
mourning colour and is out of respect for the late King George VI; the Unit’s
drums arrived on the day of his death, the 6th February 1952.
Funerals and Gun Carriages
In the time of Henry VIII military bands were not included in
establishments but every body of fighting men boasted a party of drummers
and trumpeters, the former to set and maintain the marching pace, the latter
to break the monotony by blowing an occasional fanfare. King Henry directed
that these instruments should be employed in the funeral ceremonies of high
ranking officers.
During the 18th century coffins were carried on a bier which was
borne by soldiers or officers, depending on the rank of the deceased. Behind
them marched a party of drummers playing what was then called the ‘Dede
Sounde’ (the title of which was, in 1723, changed to the ‘Dead March’ ). This
was played to a pace beat in keeping with the extremely slow rate of progress of
the bier party; thus was born the ‘Slow March’ and ‘Dead March’ of the present
time. Although speedier means of transportation were introduced, the original
slow step was retained as more befitting the dignity of the occasion.
The procedure followed at grave sides was also inaugurated in Tudor
times. After the coffin had been lowered into the grave, musketeers posted on
either side fired three volleys. The firearms of the period, being wheel-locks
some six feet (1.8 m) long and about 15 lbs (6.8 kg) in weight, required support
in the shape of a forked rest, which was struck in the ground under the
muzzle.
11.
Ibid p.4-3
61
In order to elevate the weapons, firing parties were formed in a
kneeling position opposite each other and, after the volleys were fired, the ‘Last
Post’ and ‘Reveille’ were played (in those days ‘Last Post’ took the form of ‘Taps’,
which was played at 10 pm each night as a sign for tavern keepers to shut off
their beer taps, and ‘Reveille’ consisted of a series of long blasts of no
prescribed form).
Gun carriages are synonymous with military funerals but despite
popular belief and Hollywood-made history this has not always been the case.
It was not until the mid-1800s that Queen’s Regulations authorized the use of
a gun carriage and team, when available, to carry a coffin to a burial ground,
providing said ground was more than a mile (1.6 kilometre) away. Today the
carriage and procession combine for the departure from the church or chapel
and again on the arrival at either the cemetery or crematorium.
A gun carriage at a funeral
The Catafalque Party
A catafalque is a raised structure supporting a stand upon which a
coffin is placed for display before burial; people may then file past and pay
their last respects to the deceased person. In times gone by a watch or vigil was
mounted around the coffin to ensure that the body was not interfered with
whilst it laid in State.
Today vigils or catafalque parties are mounted as a sign of respect
around personages as they lie in State and around memorials on occasions of
remembrance such as ANZAC Day. In a sense a memorial is a ‘symbolic coffin’
for those who have fallen.
62
A catafalque party at a memorial
The origin of the tradition of resting on reversed arms is lost in time.
It was used by a Commonwealth soldier at the execution of Charles I in 1649
(the soldier was duly punished for his symbolic gesture towards the King’s
death12) and it is recorded that at the funeral for Marlborough in 1722, the
troops carried out a formal reverse arms drill which was especially invented for
the service as a unique sign of respect to the great soldier.
The ‘modern trend’ of sticking rifles upside down into the ground as a
temporary memorial to a fallen soldier (with a helmet or a hat over the butt)
originated with the introduction of tanks. When a soldier fell during an
advance his mate would pick up the rifle and stick it into the ground by the
bayonet as a marker to indicate to the tanks that a wounded or dead soldier lay
there; to ensure the armoured vehicle would not accidentally run over the
body.
12.
Ibid p. 4-8
63
64
Other Information of the Australian Army
CHAPTER 4
Other Information on the Australian Army
The Australian Army
If Australia has a Royal Australian Navy and a Royal Australian Air
Force, why isn’t there a Royal Australian Army?
The answer lies in the fact that the Navy and the Air Force are
homogeneous bodies whilst the Australian Army is an elemental organization
made up of a number of corps, services and departments. Our Defence Force is
based on the British system where a person can enlist straight into either the
navy or the air force but one cannot join the ‘army’. In the United Kingdom a
person is enlisted straight into either a regiment or a corps (eg. the Royal
Regiment of Artillery, the Grenadier Guards, or the Royal Corps of Transport)
and recruit training is carried out by that formation. No one joins the ‘Army’ as
such.
The Australian Army’s enlistment procedure is slightly different.
Men and women wanting to become regular soldiers are enlisted into the
Regular Army, trained at one establishment (1st Recruit Training Battalion, at
Kapooka) and then allocated to a corps. However, people wishing to join a
reserve unit are enlisted straight into the corps or regiment of their choice.
Under the British system, because there is no army as such, corps
and regiments may be granted the title ‘Royal’ and this principle applies here
in Australia too. The title was first granted to an Australian military regiment
in 1899, nearly two years before Federation, with the formation of the New
South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland Artillery Regiments into the Royal
Australian Artillery.
The Australian Army was officially proclaimed in 1901 when
Australia became a Federation and the new Federal Government took over the
responsibility of defence from the States. However, the States’ various
regiments retained their titles and formations and continued to look after their
own recruiting and training. In fact many units in the Australian Army can
trace their origins back into the 19th century, to the Colonial Forces. ‘A’ Field
Battery, for instance, is the oldest Regular Army unit, being raised in New
South Wales in 1871.
The Australian Regular Army was ‘formed’ on the 30th September
1947 from post-war Permanent Military Forces, which included ‘A’ Field
Battery, 1st Armoured Car Squadron (now 1st Armoured Regiment) and the
65th, 66th, and 67th Infantry Battalions (re-named the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Battalions of the Australian Regiment in 1948).
65
ANZAC Day
Many ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day
customs and traditions have evolved over the years. A good number of the
stories behind these traditions have become blurred by time, and others lost,
however, some of the stories behind these ANZAC Day legends have interesting
and unique origins.
The Ode, which is read across the Australian dawn, and well into the
morning, is from the third verse of Laurence Binyon’s poem “For The Fallen”.
This Work has suffered somewhat over time with people changing the words.
The first line is "They shall grow not old...", not “not grow old”, and the last
word of the second line is "contemn" (meaning: to feel contempt for, or to
scornfully disregard), not “condemn”.1
Whilst it is said that an ANZAC Day Dawn Service was conducted at
Albany, Western Australia, in 1923, the Service as we know it today had its
beginning at Sydney’s Martin Place Cenotaph. A ‘frail, grey-haired’ woman was
at the Cenotaph in the pre-dawn hours of 25th April 1927, and when
attempting to place some flowers on the memorial she tripped and fell. Five
veterans, who were on their way home after a night-out at an Australian Legion
of Ex-Servicemen Club smoko and had wandered up along the Place, saw her
fall and moved across to both help her up and retrieve her scattered flowers.
The lady refused to get up, preferring to kneel in prayer instead and
one-by-one the five men joined her. One year later the first official Dawn
Service was held at the Cenotaph and a wreath to the fallen was laid by George
Patterson, one of the five from the previous year. The crowd was some 130
strong. From here the Dawn Service spread to all the capital cities and to many
country towns.
The Cenotaph statues were modelled by Leading Seaman John
Varcoe (from Dubbo, who had served in both HMAS Parramatta and Pioneer)
and Private William Darley (15th Infantry Battalion and 4th Field Ambulance).
The ‘official side’ of the memorial is that facing the Post Office, with the
pre-eminent flag position being the George Street end.
There are numerous stories as to the origin of the ‘gun-fire’ breakfast
but the following snippet, from the Great War, appears to be the most logical.
Following stand-down, after a long cold night in the trenches, the soldiers
turned to their breakfast and an important part of that meal was the
ubiquitous cup of tea, which, when possible, was laced with a ‘little something
extra’ to give it that added warmth and taste. An unofficial truce was
conducted at this time of day by both sides but at times the lull would be
broken by gun fire with someone, cheerful from his breakfast, popping-off his
machine gun at the other side. It has been said that ‘...if any one drink won the
war it was gun-fire tea; there should have been a banner inscribed with the
honour “Tea: 1914-1918"...’2; or so the story goes.
66
1.
Laurence Binyon For the Fallen
2.
Sidney Rogerson Twelve Days p.66
The Australian Army’s Birthday
With the coming of Federation on 1st January 1901, the armies of
the various Australian Colonies became one. The Commonwealth did not
officially assume control of these forces until 1st March, hence the birthdate of
the Army some two months after Federation. The Australian Army was
proclaimed as such under Section 69 of the Constitution. The new Army was
made up of three different types of soldiers; there were 1,500 permanent
soldiers, 18,000 militia and 9,000 volunteers for a total Army of 28,500.3
The actual term of service for the regular soldiers, of the Australian
Regular Army, was only approved by the Minister for the Army on 30th
September 1947.4
The Mess Dinner
The general collection
dining-in nights, in both officers’
hundred years but during that
according to individual regiments’
of customs and traditions observed at
and sergeants’ messes, goes back several
time these customs have been modified
own traditions and traits.
The origin of the word mess (itself derived from the Latinmissus )
goes back to France where it was used to describe a serving of food, in a dish,
for four people. In time it was used to describe a group of people who
continually sat eating together at a table. Now it is the name used to describe
the places where officers, warrant officers and senior NCOs eat and live.
At a formal dinner in the mess, when the meal has been served, the
first person to eat is the Dining President. This custom dates back to the days
of Queen Victoria when, at dinners given by Her Majesty, no one at the table
would start to eat until she, the Hostess, did so. In those days it was also the
custom that everyone would cease eating when she had finished her meal; this
presented some problems to those who were served later rather than earlier. At
one such dinner a certain distinguished gentleman, who had been on the
receiving end of this etiquette once too often, allegedly removed himself from
his seat, approached the Queen at the Top Table and in no uncertain terms
informed Her Majesty that he had not yet finished his meal, was hungry, and
intended to return to his seat and finish same. That part of the custom was
from then on discontinued.
The custom of drinking the Sovereign’s health (which, at dinners, is
toasted after the meal is completed) originated during the exile of Charles II in
France. His Royal bodyguard toasted him with the words: “Here’s a health unto
His Majesty, confusion to his enemies and a safe return to reign over the
Kingdom of his forefathers”5. Later, during the reign of the Hanoverian
Georges, and with the threat of a Stuart restoration, the Duke of Cumberland,
3.
John Mordike An Army for a Nation p.66
4.
The Oxford Companion to Austrlian Military History p.74
5.
Unkown
67
who was then Commander-in-Chief, ordered that the toast should be always
honoured. The Royal Australian Navy, carrying-on the traditions of the Royal
Navy, toasts the Sovereign seated; this custom dates back to the days when
there was little head room in the man-o-wars and standing up for the toast was
both difficult and impractical.
There are many variations of passing the port, varying from corps to
corps and from unit to unit, there is, however, no ceremonially ‘correct’ method
of passing the port, except that it is always passed from right to left.
At dinners where pipers have been in attendance performing, the
senior piper is invited to the Top Table to receive a Quaich of Whisky from the
Dining President. As he accepts the drink he gives a traditional Gaelic toast:
“Deoch slainte na ban Righ (Here’s a health to the Queen6)”.
Medals
Medals for bravery or participation in campaigns can be traced back
to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, where plaques of brass or copper were
awarded for outstanding feats of bravery. The first British medals to be issued
and classed as such ddid not appear until 1588 when they were struck by
Queen Elizabeth I upon the defeat of the Spanish Armada. They were made
from gold and silver and were fitted with rings and chains for suspension
around the neck.
In 1643 King Charles I awarded a medal for conspicuous conduct to
Robert Welch for recovering the Royal Standard during the first battle of the
English Civil War at the Battle of Edgehill. This was the first British Monarch
to award a military medal for prowess on the battlefield. In 1650 Oliver
Cromwell issued the first campaign medals which were awarded to both
officers and men; the medal was known as the Dunbar Medal and
commemorated the defeat of the Scots Royalists at Dunbar. This medal also
was suspended from the neck.
The first official war medal of the type we know today was the 1815
Waterloo Medal and it was issued with a ribbon and an instruction stating “...
the ribbon issued with the medal shall never be worn but with the medal
suspended on it”7. From this time on, medals were struck for nearly every
engagement and later medals were introduced as honours and awards.
Today there is some confusion about the difference between Honours
and Awards, and Orders, Decorations and Medals. An Honour is an
appointment made to an Order (eg. the Order of Australia) whilst Awards cover
Decorations and Medals.
Decorations include the Victoria Cross, the Star of Courage, both the
Conspicuous Service Cross and Medal, etc whilst Medals cover the Member of
the Order of Australia, the Medal of the Order of Australia (the term “medals’
includes the badges of the 4th and 5th classes of orders and decorations which
are worn as medals) campaign, long service and other medals.
68
6.
The Scots Guards Volume 2 p.x
7.
Infantry Centre Military Traditions and Customs p. 2 -11
Australia changed from the British Imperial Honours System with
the introduction of the Order of Australia in 1975 and produced its own service
medal for World War II, the Australia Service Medal, and together with New
Zealand struck the Vietnam Medal in 1964. There is now a wide range of
medals in the Australian Honours System.
A current popular method of wearing medals in the Australian Army
is in the style known as ‘Court Mounted’. This method of mounting has the
ribands going back behind the medals and it was designed in the British Royal
Courts to stop the medals ‘clinking’ against each other as personnel moved
about.
Medals mounted loose (left) and court mounted (right)
Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-Camp (ADC) is a French term which originally denoted a
military officer attached to a commander as a carrier of his orders to his
subordinates. Today the military aspect of his work has been taken over by
staff officers (see: Adjutant). He is in reality a private adjutant to a general
officer commanding troops. More junior commanders (eg. brigade
commanders) have liaison officers (LO) who perform the same duties.
Batman
A batman (originally pronounced bawman) was a person, not
necessarily a soldier, paid by the government and allocated to each company
when on foreign service to look after the cooking utensils. Each company was
also allowed a bathorse (bawhorse) to carry the utensils and the cost of its
fodder was also paid for by the government.
69
When the army was stationed at home the men were billeted at inns,
beer-houses, and public houses so the need for the bathorse disappeared;
however, the batmen were often retained as personal servants. Bathorses were
discontinued sometime in the 18th century and in time the batman has
evolved into the soldier he is today.
The role of a batman is an important one because the life of a
commander in barracks, but especially in the field, is extremely busy and he
does not have the time to look after himself. Rest periods, when grabbed, must
be used to clear the mind and recharge the body, for the decision of a
commander will determine who will win or lose, and the lives of his men may be
at stake.
Mentioned-in-Dispatches
Mentioned-in-Dispatches is nowadays an award but it originated
literally as a mention of an officer in a dispatch by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart
dated 10th August 1794. The significance today is that a person has been
mentioned for meritorious service and he is entitled to wear an emblem on the
medal subsequently awarded for the campaign in which the service was
rendered.
The first medal on which such an emblem (in the design of an oak
leaf) was authorized to be worn was the Victory Medal of the 1914-18 War.
The Vietnam Medal with a
Mentioned-in-Dispatches clasp
70
The Digger
The nickname ‘Digger’ is attributed to the number of ex-gold diggers
in the early army units and to the trench digging activities of the Australian
soldiers during World War I. The actual origin of the name has been lost in time
but the Australian soldier is known affectionately around the world as the
Digger.
The Unknown Soldier
The Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey in London
on the 11th November 1920 and he was intended to represent all of those who
died for ‘Home and Empire’. The idea of burying an unknown soldier as a
memorial to the dead was conceived by a British Army Chaplain, the Reverend
David Railton. During World War I (the ‘Great War’), whilst at Armentieres, he
had noticed a grave which bore a pencilled inscription, ‘An unknown soldier of
the Black Watch’8.
It was not until 1920, some two years after the War, that he was able
to put forward his plan for a National Memorial of an unknown soldier. The
bodies of six unknown British soldiers were brought together at the Chapel at
Saint Pol, they came from the battle fields of Aisne, Marne, Cambrai, the
Somme, Arras, and Ypres. A blindfolded brigadier-general selected a body and
it became the Unknown Warrior. The body was placed in a coffin of British
Hampton Court oak and with a bearer party of five British soldiers, two
Canadian soldiers, and an Australian from the Light Horse, it commenced its
journey back home; the five remaining bodies were then reburied in the
Military Cemetery at Saint Pol. When reburied at the Abbey the body was laid
to its final rest in dirt from Ypres, soil on which so many of his fellow troops
had both fought and died.
Since that time there had been a longing for Australia to have a
separate tomb for its unknown soldier and it was finally decided in 1991 to
bring an Australian digger back from the battle fields of Europe. It was planned
that the entombment at the Australian War Memorial was to coincide with the
75th Anniversary of the Armistice in November 1918. It was then decided that
the soldier chosen should come from France or Belgium, as it was here, during
the Great War, that Australia suffered its greatest losses in war. After
negotiations between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the
Australian War Memorial, and with support from the Federal Government,
permission was granted for a body to be removed from French soil.
The Soldier was selected from the Adelaide Cemetery at
Villers-Bretonneux in northern France. This Cemetery was chosen because 54
per cent of the graves there are Australian and 117 of these are of unknown
soldiers. 90 per cent of the bodies in Adelaide Cemetery were brought from
small graveyards and isolated positions from the boundary around the town.
Meticulous records kept by the Commission, with notes clearly detailing
8.
Ibid p. 9-11
71
clothing and equipment buried on the bodies some 75 years earlier, ensured
that the body selected was an Australian soldier.
There exists a close link between Australia and the town of
Villers-Bretonneux, a village which was the scene of bitter fighting in 1918 and
in which the Australians made a significant contribution to its recapture and
defence. In 1938 Australia erected its National Memorial near the village to
commemorate the lives of all Australians who died during the War and ANZAC
Day services have been held there every year since. The Memorial stands on a
hill at the rear of the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and on its walls are
inscribed the names of 11,000 dead Australian soldiers whose bodies were
never found.
The Unknown Soldier was selected from Grave 13 Row M in Plot III of
the Adelaide Cemetery and the remains were exhumed at 8 o’clock on a chilly
morning on the 2nd November 1993. A police cordon was placed around the
Cemetery and 20 graves were shielded by a three-metre high cloth screen. The
intact skeletal remains were placed in a copper casket which was then sealed.
The casket was then placed in an inner coffin constructed from Australian
timber which in turn was encased in a outer coffin of Tasmanian blackwood.
At 10 o’clock the coffin was transported four kilometres in a
specially-prepared vehicle with a French military escort to the Australian
National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Here a French Army bearer party,
led by a French piper, carried the coffin up to the Memorial itself. The coffin
was flanked by six ceremonial pallbearers; Military and Defence Attaches
representing Canada, the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, New Zealand,
and Australia. The coffin was placed upon a catafalque and here His Royal
Highness The Duke of Kent, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission, accepted the body on behalf of the Commission. The coffin was
then officially delivered to the guardianship of the Australian Ambassador.
A new bearer party comprising of two warrant officers class one from
the Australian Army and two warrant officers each from both the RAN and the
RAAF then took charge of the coffin. This party accompanied the Soldier to his
final resting place in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The coffin, now
adorned with the Australian Flag, a bayonet and a Slouch Hat, was then
carried to a room at the base of the Memorial Tower where it was protected by
an Australian Army Guard of Honour. Later it was moved to the Menin Gate at
Ypres for a short ceremony to commemorate the role that Australia played in
the defence of Belgium during the War.
On the 5th of November, the Unknown Soldier, after some 75 years,
commenced his final trip back home on a QANTAS 747 aircraft especially
re-named the ‘Spirit of Remembrance’.
He arrived at Sydney on the morning of the 7th November and was
transferred to an RAAF C-130 aircraft for transportation to Canberra where
the Soldier was laid in state for four days in King’s Hall, in the Old Parliament
House, and here, for the first time, the Australian public were able to pay their
respects.
On the morning of the 11th November, on a warm sunny spring day,
the Unknown Soldier commenced the final leg of his long journey. The bearer
party, flanked by 13 World War I veterans, carried the coffin from King’s Hall to
a 15 pounder BL gun carriage. The cortege then moved along King George
72
Terrace, across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge over Lake Burley Griffin and up
towards ANZAC Parade. The bells of Saint John’s Church, along with church
bells across the country from Broome to Byron Bay rang out a nation’s respect
for the repatriated digger. A field marshal’s complement of 19 minute guns also
sounded out across the National Capital. The procession moved up ANZAC
Parade to the Australian War Memorial accompanied by the combined bands
of the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Army Band Kapooka
playing Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’, the ‘Dead March from Saul’, and ‘Flowers of
the Forest’.
The Chief Mourner was the Governor-General and the Chief Pall
Bearer was the Prime Minister. Official Pall Bearers were the Leader of the
Opposition, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of the Naval Staff, the
Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Air Staff, the National President of
the Returned and Services League, and the Vice-Chairman of the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Altogether there were 32 official
mourners including the Mayors of both Villers-Bretonneux and Ypres.
The route from the Old Parliament House to the Memorial was lined
by thousands of people with over 25,000 more at the Memorial itself, whilst
millions of Australians across the Country followed the proceedings on either
TV or national radio.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial
73
Upon reaching the Memorial the coffin was placed on the Stone of
Remembrance for the Commemorative Service, during which the Chairman of
the War Memorial Council accepted the remains. After the catafalque party
withdrew, the Soldier was carried up into the Memorial past the Pool of
Reflection and into the Hall of Memory. The Principle Chaplain for the Army
read the Prayer of Committal and the coffin was lowered into the tomb by the
same bearer party that had accompanied it all through France.
Three rifle volleys were fired and after the prayer of dedication the
Governor-General placed a sprig of golden wattle onto the casket. A
ninety-three year old veteran from the War then sprinkled soil from the battle
fields of Pozieres over the casket; the Ode was read followed by the Last Post
and two minutes silence. Finally, at the completion of the ceremony, the
National Anthem was played.
After three days the tomb was sealed with a huge slab of Turkish
marble. The face of the slab reads AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER KILLED IN THE
WAR OF 1914-1918. The sloping glacis around the tomb bears the inscription
HE SYMBOLIZES ALL AUSTRALIANS WHO HAVE DIED IN WAR.
Detachments and Crews
Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, anti-armour equipments,
mortars etc are ‘manned’ or ‘crewed’, but guns within the Royal Regiment of
Australian Artillery are ‘served’ by ‘detachments’.
Artillery companies in the early 18th century were pools of trained
gunners with no equipment. When a field army was raised it was issued with
the artillery equipment and the gunners were then detached to the army to
serve them.
Mortar sections within infantry battalions are made up of mortar
detachments, and each detachment consists of a mortar and its crew9.
A gunner detachment serving a 105mm Light Gun
9.
74
MLW Pt 2, Vol 5, Mortar Handling Drills & CP Procedures (1980)
Identity Discs
Just prior to the American Civil War battle at Cold Harbour US
Federal troops were seen writing their names and addresses on pieces of paper
and sewing them onto the backs of their coats. This was done so that, in the
event of their death, their bodies could be recognised and their fate be made
known to their families at home. It is thought that these were the first
measures taken for ‘formally’ identifying troops in the event of injury or death.
During the Boer War of 1899-1902, British soldiers started carrying
strips of tape in the tunic pockets, however, it seems that soldiers being
soldiers, the strips were often misplaced, resulting in a detailed search of the
seriously wounded and dead to locate them. In 1906 each soldier was issued
with a tin disc and given specific orders that it was to be worn around the neck.
By the Great War soldiers were issued with two discs each; one
round and coloured red; the other octagonal and coloured green. These discs
were stamped with the soldiers name, religion and unit. The red tag was to be
removed from bodies by burial parties and attached to a small bag containing
the soldier’s personal belongings. The tags’ dual purpose was to identify the
owner of the contents and at the same time assist in establishing a record of
those killed. The green tag remained with the body for temporary burial,
making the corpse identifiable when exhumed at a later date for proper burial.
(Legend has it that the two colours were to assist soldiers in remembering
which tag went where; red, the colour of blood, was taken away indicating that
the ‘owner’ was dead and green, the colour of grass, was kept with the body for
burial.)
Today the Australian Army’s Personnel Identification Tags are
referred to as ‘Number 1 Tag’ (the octagonal shaped disc) and ‘Number 2 Tag’
(the circular disc) and they are embossed with the title AUST, the soldier’s
regimental number, initials and surname, religion and blood group. The
circular tag is removed from the body and the octagonal tag should, given time,
be placed inside the dead soldier’s mouth between the teeth and the lips.
Flag Stations
National flags, hoisted and flown from protected locations, were a
traditional means of proclaiming sovereignty. As these sites became
established the flags were relocated inside forts and the like, where the flags
and the troops protecting them, were more secure.
75
The Flag Station at the Royal Military College, Duntroon
By the end of the 17th century forts and castles lost much of their
military significance and a Royal Proclamation in 1801 directed that The
Union Flag should be flown at all His Majesty’s forts and castles and worn by
all His Majesty’s ships. Due to the gradual increase in production of the Flag
over the years, the importance of these forts and castles or ‘Stations’ tended to
be lost. In 1873 a list of British Flag Stations around the world was included in
Queen’s Regulations for the British Army. Regulations required that the Union
Flag was to be flown at these Stations all year round.
Australia’s first Flag Station was established in 1873 and there are
currently 13 Stations around the Country. All are maintained in Army
establishments where, by tradition, they can be protected.
In recent years with the much wider use of the Australian National
Flag, the prominence and the significance of these Stations have diminished,
nevertheless the Flag Stations still proclaim the Nation’s sovereignty and
remain subject to special regulations contained in the Army’s Ceremonial
Manual.
The Pioneer Sergeant of 4 RAR
In 1965 the then Governor-General, Lord De L’Isle, presented the 4th
Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (4 RAR), with its Colours. He
suggested that the Battalion’s Pioneer Sergeant wear a beard and carry an axe
as is the custom in many British Army units. The tradition dates back to the
18th century when each British infantry company had a pioneer who marched
at the head of the regiment. He wore a ‘stout’ apron and carried an axe which
was used to clear a path for all that followed. The pioneer sergeant was also the
unit blacksmith and as such wore an apron to protect his uniform and a beard
to protect his face from the heat and the slag of the forge. His axe was also used
to kill horses that were wounded in battle. The Pioneer Sergeant in 4 RAR also
carries a tomahawk on parade in lieu of a bayonet.
76
4 RAR is the only unit within the Australian Army with a soldier who
is officially authorised to wear a beard. The tradition continued through the
period 1973-1995 when 4 RAR was amalgamated with 2 RAR (2/4 RAR).
Outgoing pioneer sergeants have their beard removed in front of the
entire Battalion, by the Commanding Officer.
The Pioneer Sergeant
1 RAR Shovel
When the departing Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The
Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR), was reviewing his Unit farewell Parade in
Korea in 1953, he was disgusted with the standard of the drill and was
reported to comment that he “could have done better with a shovel”. The acting
RSM cried out “Prove it”. With this the CO and the warrant officers and senior
NCOs headed for the Sergeants’ Mess where the CO, armed with a shovel, was
put through a variety of drill movements.10
On completion of the ‘display’ the CO ordered that the shovel be
packed up and returned to Australia, where it has remained in the Battalion’s
Sergeants Mess ever since. On each new CO’s first visit to the Mess it is
brought out and, armed with the shovel, he is put through a series of rifle drill
movements.
10.
1RAR Regimental History p.2
77
A Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion,
the Royal Australian Regiment and The Shovel
The Lance
The lance was the principal weapon of the mounted man from the
Norman Conquest to the beginning of the 17th century when it was largely
discarded in Europe for some 200 years, before returning into service toward
the end of the 18th century when Napoleon re-introduced the weapon in
Europe. The success of his Polish Lancers and their effect on the infantry
prompted the British Army to adopt the weapon for its own Forces in 1816.
In 1881 the length of the lance was shortened to six feet (1.8 meters)
making it a more convenient weapon; after a variety of blades were tried over
the years the three-sided point blade was adopted.
The Boer War saw the rifle come into favour as the most preferred
weapon of the cavalry and the lance was abolished in 1903, being retained
solely for ceremonial parades. It was briefly re-introduced into service as an
operational weapon in 1909, however, World War I heralded a change in
cavalry tactics which eventually led to the lance being abandoned as a weapon
of war in 1927.
78
A warrant officer of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps with a ceremonial lance
The Australian Imperial Force
The Australian soldiers who served in World War I were all
volunteers. Even Regular Army personnel had to resign from the Army to join
the formation known as the AIF, the Australian Imperial Force. The Force was
raised and named by Major General William Bridges.
The Defence Act of 1904, which was drafted after the Boer War,
contained a provision which prevented the Australian Government from
sending soldiers outside Australia. This Act came about because, after the
Boer War, many parliamentarians were concerned about future Australian
involvement in overseas British Imperial operations, believing instead that the
Australian Defence Force was purely for the defence of Australia.
However, the same Act did contain a clause which allowed
Australians as individuals to volunteer for overseas service in defence of the
Empire and it was this ‘loophole’ which enabled the government to raise a force
to serve overseas to fight in the Great War (World War I). The same problem
arose during World War II, where again soldiers had to resign from the Regular
Army to volunteer to serve overseas in a new force, aptly named the 2nd AIF.
In 1943 the Act was amended to allow the Government to deploy the
Militia and conscripted soldiers to the South-West Pacific Theatre. After the
War the Act was completely changed, empowering the Australian Government
to deploy the Regular Defence Forces overseas to any theatre of operations.
The 1st AIF was formally disbanded on 1st April 1921 and the 2nd
AIF on 30th June 1947; there will never again be an AIF.
79
Army Formations
The word formation comes from the Latinformatio, a term used in the
days of the Roman Empire to describe the disposition of troops going into
battle. Today formations in the Australian Army range from command
formations through to divisions, brigades (or task forces), regiments,
battalions and companies (batteries or squadrons), all the way down to troops,
platoons and sections.
Brigade
(to fight).
The term brigade is French, coming from the Old Italian word brigare
Regiment
The term regiment, from the Latinregimentum (to rule) has many
meanings. In the case of the artillery, the engineers and in armoured units it
means a unit made up of sub-units (ie. batteries or squadrons). However, in
the case of the gunners, the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery itself is
comprised of a number of regiments (regiments within a Regiment, as
described in the Paragraph below dealing with The Battery); yet within the
infantry a regiment is an organization consisting of a number of battalions.
Before the 17th century the main military unit was the company. In time they
were brought together under the rule (or regime) of a single commander; hence
the term regiment.
Battalion
The term battalion dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from
the French battaillon, which is thought to have been a common term used
associated with the word ‘battle’. Traditionally the battalion is a unit of
infantry made up of several companies and forms a part of a brigade and/or a
regiment.
Battery
The word battery comes from the Frenchbattre (to beat), which is in
itself derived from the Latinbattuere. A battery was a fixed fortified structure in
which artillery pieces were placed. Artillery in the field, however, were grouped
into troops and companies. In 1722 gunner companies were organised into a
regiment and it became known as the Royal Regiment of Artillery (see the
paragraph above on The Regiment). In the late 1850s companies of guns
became known as battalions, then with another name change they became
regiments. Over the same period troops of artillery came to be known as
batteries.
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Company
The term comes from the Frenchcompaignie (companion). Towards
the end of the medieval period mercenary bands of professional soldiers were
found roaming the land looking for battles and wars to fight; the captains of
these groups would accept contracts and money was then invested to finance
these bands, which went on to become known as companies. The soldiers
would then share in the resulting profits from plunder and ransoms.
Squadron
It is said that the term squadron is derived from the Italian
squadrone, orsquadro, which in itself is derived from the Latinquadra, a
square.
Troop
The origin of the term troop has been lost in time but it is thought to
have come originally from the Frenchtroupe or trope, based on the Latin
troppus, a flock. Today troops are subordinate formations within artillery
batteries and both engineer and armoured unit squadrons. The term troops is
also used to describe the ‘other ranks’ (junior NCOs and private soldiers).
The Governor-General’s Baton
The silver baton which is carried by the Music Director of the Band of
the Royal Military College Duntroon was presented to the Band in 1979 by the
then Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen. It was presented in recognition of
“fine musicianship and to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Band”11. The Baton is
used only on occasions when the Governor-General is present.
The Governor-General’s Baton
11.
Royal Military College The History of the RMC Band
81
The Governor-General’s Sword
The ceremonial sword carried by the Under Officer commanding the
Sovereign’s Company at the Royal Military College Duntroon, was presented to
the College by the then Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, in 1988. It was
presented as a farewell gift on the occasion of the 15th and final parade he
reviewed in his capacity as Governor-General.
The Sovereign’s Company Under Officer being presented
with the Governor-General’s Sword
Staff-Cadet Casey
Legend has it that many years ago, in the past history of the Royal
Military College Duntroon, there was a staff cadet named Casey. Staff Cadet
Casey was a member of Fourth Class. Prior to a particular Christmas leave he
was skylarking and managed to lock himself in a broom cupboard. Casey was not
missed from the Leave Draft, thus remaining in the cupboard until the Corps
returned for duty in the new year.
Staff Cadet Casey’s skeleton was found but his ghost still haunts the
corridors and cavities of the College. He will never graduate but, to appease his
spirit, he is present at each graduation ball.
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Casey’s skeleton is lodged inside a glass locker at the Cadets’ Mess
along with ‘his’ parade boots and Blues cap.
Staff-Cadet Casey
Honorary Colonels and Colonels Commandant
Honorary Colonels and Colonels Commandant are officers who are
appointed to assist in the domestic matters of a unit, regiment or a corps. They
are, in fact, appointed by the Chief of Army. Corps have the option of adopting
either title, Honorary Colonel or Colonel Commandant.
Their role usually includes fostering esprit-de-corps and taking an
overall interest in the general welfare of the unit (regiment or corps). They also
assist in maintaining links with similar formations overseas. The Honorary
Colonel or Colonel Commandant may also advise on unit, regimental or corps
matters such as charities or similar organizations, memorials and customs.
A Regimental Colonel is an officer who is appointed to assist the
Honorary Colonel or Colonel Commandant. This position is also appointed by
the Chief of Army.
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Representative Honorary Colonels and Representative
Colonels Commandant
Representative Honorary Colonel and Representative Colonels
Commandant are officers selected from the list of Honorary Colonels and
Colonels Commandant of corps which have more than one to represent it. For
example the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery has a Colonel Commandant
in each state and one of these is selected as the Honorary Colonel
Commandant to represent the Regiment as a whole at certain functions, or
with regard to a particular Regimental matter. The representative is appointed
by the Chief of Army on the recommendation of respective Honorary Heads of
Corps.
The governor of a state, an officer on the retired list who on
retirement was a lieutenant colonel or higher rank, an officer currently holding
the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher, may be appointed as an Honorary
Colonel or Colonel Commandant. Other people may, in very exceptional
circumstances, be appointed to the position.
A Regimental Colonel may be an officer of lieutenant colonel or
above, or an officer on the retired list who retired was a lieutenant colonel or
above.
Volunteers and Militia
The colonial forces of the country were drawn together in 1901 to
form the Australian Army. These forces were made up of three different groups;
there were the Permanent Forces, the Militia and the Volunteer Forces.
Members of the Militia were paid part-time soldiers whilst the
Volunteers were unpaid12; the Volunteer soldiers of the day had to meet all
expenses out of their own pockets. In time the Militia were re-named the
Citizen Military Forces and today they are known as the Reserve.
Gunners, Sappers, and Other Ranks
There are many confusing terms used within the Army and the three
most common are gunners, sappers and other ranks. They can, under varying
circumstances, mean different things.
Gunners
The private rank of soldiers in the Royal Regiment of Australian
Artillery is gunner but all members of the Regiment, regardless of rank, are
referred to asgunners. Adding to the confusion,gunners is also the term used
to refer to the Regiment as a whole. In other words, “Gunner Reading reported
12.
84
John Mordike An Army for a Nation p. 1-2
to the guard room”, or “General Austen is a gunner”, or “The gunners have
served in every conflict in which Australia has been involved”.
Sappers
A similar problem with regard to terminology exists with the Royal
Australian Engineers.
Sapper is the rank of the private soldier within the Corps; all
members of the Corps aresappers, and the Corps as a whole is also referred to
as the sappers. The term ‘sapper’ relates back to the very early days of
engineers; to sap was to dig siege trenches, or tunnels, under the enemy’s
fortifications.
Other Ranks
The term other ranks may be used in a variety of situations.
Officers and Other Ranks. In this context the term refers to all
personnel other than commissioned officers (ie. warrant officers, both senior
and junior non-commissioned officers and soldiers of private, or equivalent,
rank).
Officers, Warrant Officers, Senior NCOs and Other Ranks. In this
context the term refers to the junior non-commissioned officers and soldiers of
private, or equivalent, rank.
Officers, Warrant Officers, NCOs and Other Ranks. Here the term
refers to the soldiers of private, or equivalent, rank only.
Rank and File. This refers to all the soldiers who are formed-up on
parade in the ranks (usually the private soldiers and the junior
non-commissioned officers) and the warrant officers and senior
non-commissioned officers who form-up in files to the flanks of the ranks, or in
a separate supernumerary rank (serrefile) behind the main ranks of soldiers.
Officers form-up in front of therank and file.
Mascots
Armies throughout history, dating back to the Romans, have had
animals as pets and mascots ranging in variety from kittens and hens to tigers,
camels and elephants. Their reasons for being adopted varied from the
necessity of comfort (many Russian soldiers of the Crimean War kept kittens
buttoned-up inside their coats to keep themselves warm) to heroes (according
to Roman legend it was the cackling of geese that warned the Capital’s
defenders of the approaching Gauls).
Some mascots are adopted by units as a representation of the
regimental badge (2nd Cavalry Regiment and the eagle), some because of
history (the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and the donkey - Simpson
and his donkey at Gallipoli), and some simply because the animal in question
adopted the unit. There are ‘unit-trained’ mascots, such as dogs and horses
which can participate in regimental parades, and there are those which are
better off, for all concerned (particularly reviewing officers), housed elsewhere.
85
An example is the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment mascot
which is a tiger and is kept at Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo.
Unlike the British Army, mascots in the Australian Army are
officially recognised. They are given a regimental number and a name, both of
which appear on the unit roll. They are registered with the Army’s Ceremonial
Section and the Soldier Career Management Agency and they can even be
officially promoted. As some have discovered, they can also be charged with an
offence (a certain ram was charged with having a female in his lines when a
rival battalion slipped a ewe into his pen late one night) and they can be
reduced in rank. However, the unit or corps is responsible for all of the
mascot’s expenses and well being as public funds are not expended on
mascots.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Corporal Courage
The Waterloo Dinner
The Royal Australian Engineers’ annual Dinner is known as the
‘Waterloo Dinner’. In 1915 at Gallipoli a dinner was held to celebrate the
completion of an Engineer task known as Watson’s Pier at ANZAC Cove. The
date chosen to hold the dinner just happened to be the 18th of June, the 100th
anniversary of the famous battle. The Regimental Dinner, which is still
conducted annually, is held as close as is possible to the original date.
Mess Bells
A number of messes within the Australian Army, particularly
sergeants’ messes, have a bell which is used to bring the mess members to
order for a particular announcement (eg. the arrival of a guest, or perhaps for
an announcement by the mess president).
The bell is usually in the shape and design of a ship’s bell and in
some cases that is exactly what the bells are. Two examples are the bells in the
Regimental Sergeants’ Messes of both the Royal Regiment of Australian
Artillery and the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.
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The bell in the gunners Mess is a copy of that from HMAFA (His
Majesty’s Australian Fleet Auxiliary) Biloela. Upon de-commissioning in 1930
the crew of the Auxiliary presented its bell to the Garrison Artillery Sergeants’
Mess at South Head in Sydney. This ‘good will’ gesture was promoted by an
incident when a team from the Mess went aboard the Biloela some years earlier
for a convivial evening and later departed - with the bell. The Navy viewed the
incident somewhat dimly and it was only after the bell was returned that
harmony was restored; a relationship that lasted to the end of the Biloela’s life.
The Coast Artillery moved out of South Head in 1953 and the bell
then moved across, with the Gunners, to North Head, where it was positioned
at the top of the parade ground. The bell was rung every day for Regimental
Training Wing’s ‘on parade’ calls. When the Wing moved to Holsworthy in 1969
as 123rd Training Battery, the bell remained at the School of Artillery but a
copy was made and it accompanied the Wing on its move across Sydney. When
the Battery was disbanded and the Wing returned to the School, the replica
bell moved into the Regimental Sergeants Mess.
The Mess Bell in the Royal Military College’s Sergeants Mess
The bell in the Infantry’s Regimental Sergeants’ Mess is that of the
former aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney. The story of the association between the
carrier and the Royal Australian Regiment goes back to the Korean War when
the Sydney’s aircraft flew in support of the Regiment’s battalions. In later years
the Sydney was converted to a troop carrier and carried all the RAR battalions
to and from South Vietnam. During all these years a firm bond of friendship
was established through all rank structures between the crews of the Sydney
and members of the Regiment.
Upon the Sydney’s de-commissioning the carrier’s bell was selected
as being an appropriate gift to present to the Regiment as a token of this long
standing relationship. On 14th December 1975 it was handed over on
permanent loan to the Infantry Centre to be held in trust for the Royal
Australian Regiment.
There really is no one story behind the ‘tradition’ of ships’ bells in
messes; it is just a tradition that has come about over time, simply because
people thought they looked nice in a mess and they are a very good device for
getting the attention of all within the mess.Of such things traditions are
made.
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88
Barracks and Lines of the Australian Army
CHAPTER 5
Barracks and Lines
Barracks were first constructed in Britain during the late 18th
century and they replaced the system of billeting troops out with the local
inhabitants. This gave the officers greater control over the soldiers and at the
same time protected them from "the contaminating influences of the lower
orders"1. It was not a popular decision at the time for it was seen as separating
the Standing Army from society.
In Australia the British troops were housed in barracks virtually
from the start of the early days of settlement. Today barracks are, in the main,
made up of a number of units, each occupying an area within the barracks
known as (unit) lines.
Both barracks and the various unit lines within barracks are named,
in the majority of cases, after famous battles or soldiers. As time passes the
origins of many of these names are forgotten; here briefly is their origin.
Barracks named after the suburb in which they are located, eg. Randwick
Barracks, are not included.
Barracks
ANGLESEA
Marquis of Anglesey, Master of Ordnance (1811)
BARDIA
Battle of Bardia; Libya (World War II)
BEERSHEBA
Battle of Beersheba; Palestine (World War I)
BLAMEY
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey (1884-1951). Receiving a
commission in 1906 he landed at Gallipoli on the first day, as the intelligence
officer HQ 1st Division. On the Western Front he served as chief-of-staff to
General Monash. Between the Wars his postings included Deputy CGS,
Commander 3rd Division and Commander 6th Division. Starting World War II
as a corps commander, he was appointed C-in-C AMF in 1942 and then
Commander Allied Land Forces (South-West Pacific). He was promoted Field
Marshal in 1950.
BOBDUBI
Battle of Bobdubi; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
BORNEO
Scene of Australian operations (World War II and The Confrontation
1962-66)
1.
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History p.84
89
BRIDGES
Major General William Throsby Bridges (1861-1915). He was commissioned
into the New South Wales permanent artillery in 1885 and was posted as the
Chief Instructor to the School of Artillery in 1893. Bridges was seconded to the
British Army in 1899 and saw active service in South Africa during the Boer
War. In 1902. Back in Australia, he was posted as the Assistant
Quartermaster-General and in 1909 became the first CGS of the Australian
Army. In 1910 he was chosen to establish a military college in Australia and
RMC opened at Duntroon in 1911 with Bridges as the Commandant. He was
ordered to raise the AIF in 1914 and after service in Egypt he landed at
Gallipoli with the 1st Division on 25th April 1915. He was wounded on 15th
May and died three days later. Bridges was the first Australian Army officer to
reach the rank of general and his grave lies in the grounds of the Royal Military
College at Duntroon.
BOUGAINVILLE
Scene of Australian operations (World War II)
BUNA
Battle of Buna; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
CAMPBELL
Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Campbell (1842-1924). A former British
sergeant-major he joined the Colonial Army in Western Australia;
commissioned, he finished his career in 1902 as the Acting Commandant of
the Commonwealth Military Forces in Western Australia.
DAMASCUS
Scene of Australian Light Horse operations; Syria (World War I)
D'AMOUR
Town liberated by the 25th Brigade; Syria (World War II)
DUNLOP
Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop (1907-93). A doctor in the Medical Corps of the
2nd AIF, he became a POW of the Japanese. During his time in captivity he,
like all the other allied medical officers, was responsible for saving the lives of
countless sick and wounded fellow POWs.
GALLIPOLI
Site of the ANZAC landings; Turkey, Sunday 25th April 1915 (World War I)
GAZA RIDGE
In recognition of AAOC (now RAAOC) personnel who served in the area of
Gaza Ridge, Egypt (World Wars I and II)
GONA
Battle of Gona; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
HAMEL
Battle of Hamel; on the Somme, France (World War I)
HOPKINS
Major General Ronald Hopkins (1897 - 1990). An officer with the Light Horse in
World War I and Commander of the 7th Division cavalry during 1940-41 and
the Australian component of the BCOF in Japan after World War II. He was a
Commandant of RMC and was later responsible for significant developments
in the RAAC.
IRWIN
Major F.C. Irwin (d.1860). Commandant of the West Australia Colonial
Forces in 1836 and the acting Governor of the Colony during the 1840s.
JEZZINE
Scene of Australian operations; Syria (World War II)
KIARIVA
Scene of Australian operations; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
KOKODA
The Kokoda Track; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
KOMIATUM
Komiatum Ridge; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
LAMIA
Scene of Australian operations; Greece (World War II)
LATCHFORD
Colonel E.W. Latchford (1889-1962).
LARRAKEYAH
The Aboriginal tribe that lived in the area which is now Darwin.
90
LAVARACK
Lieutenant General Sir John Lavarack (1885-1957). A regular Army officer, he
served with the 1st AIF on the Western Front. Between the wars he was a
Commandant of RMC, Director of Military Operations and Intelligence and a
CGS. During World War II he commanded the 7th Division, was GOC
Cyrenaica Command, Commander of I Corps and he commanded the 1st
Australian Army in Queensland. After the War he served a term as the
Governor of Queensland.
LEEUWIN
HMAS Leeuwin was, from 1926, used as a drill hall and as the headquarters
for the District Naval Officer at Freemantle. After World War II it was mostly
employed as a base for the training of reserves and national servicemen, and
in 1959 it became the site for the Navy's junior recruit training. The
establishment was de-commissioned as a RAN Ship on the 11th November
1986.
LONE PINE
Scene of Australian operations; Gallipoli (World War I)
MAYGAR
Lieutenant L.C. Maygar, VC (1872-1917). Joining the 5th Victorian Mounted
Rifles in 1891, he served as an officer in the South African Boer War where in
1901 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Geelhoutboom.
After the War he joined the 8th Light Horse Regiment and in 1914, with the 1st
AIF, he was posted to the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He served with the
Regiment at Gallipoli and then in the Middle East, as the Regiment's CO,
where he was killed in action during the battle of Beersheba.
MENIN
Battle of the Menin Road ridge; Belgium (World War I)
MILNE BAY
The Battle of Milne Bay; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
MONT ST QUETIN
Battle of Mont St Quetin; France (World War I)
NORRIS
Major General Sir Frank Norris (1893-1984). Director-General of Army
Medical Services over the period 1948-55. He was responsible for the
purchase of the property for the School of Army Health at Healesville in 1951.
PALMER
Brigadier E.L. Palmer (1923-). Director-General of Supply for the Army over
the period 1976-77 and Honorary Colonel for the RAAOC 1978-90.
PASSCHENDALE
Battle of Passchendale; Belgium (World War I)
PATERSON
Major William Paterson (1755-1810). An officer in the New South Wales
Corps; his appointments included Detachment Commander at Norfolk Island,
Administrator and later, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of New South
Wales. In 1840 he was ordered to Tasmania to found two settlements, York
Town and what is now Launceston.
RANGER
The Barrack's original occupants were the Ballarat Volunteer Rifle
Regiment, better known as the "Ballarat Rangers".
ROBERTSON
Lieutenant General Sir Horace Robertson (1894-1960). A graduate of the
second class from RMC, 1914, he served with the 10th Light Horse Regiment
during World War I. Between the Wars his postings included DMA at RMC and
his postings during World War II included Commander of the 1st Australian
Armoured Division and the 6th Australian Division. At the War's end he held
the post of C-in-C of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan.
ROMANI
Battle of Romani; Sinai (World War I)
SALAMAUA
Battle of Salamaua; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
SANANANDA
Battle of Sanananda; Papua New Guinea (World War II)
SIMPSON
Major General C.H. Simpson (1894-1964). Commissioned in 1912, he served
in the Signal Corps during World War I and in 1940 was appointed as the Chief
Signals Officer in 1st Australian Corps. Later, during World War II, he became
the Signals Officer-in-Chief of the Allied Land Forces.
91
SOMME
Battle of the Somme; France (World War I)
TAYLOR
Major General K.J. Taylor (1929 -). Commissioned in 1950, into the Royal
Australian Corps of Signals, he served in both the Korean and Vietnam
Wars.
TIMOR
Scene of Australian guerrilla operations (World War II)
TOBRUK
The Siege of Tobruk; Libya (World War II)
VICTORIA
Queen Victoria (1837-1901)
WATERLOO
Battle of Waterloo; Belgium (1815)
WITTON
Witton Manor; a boarding house that stood on the Barrack's present
location.
Unit Lines
BALIKPAPAN
Scene of Australian amphibious operations; Borneo (World War II)
BARCE
Scene of Australian operations; Libya (World War II)
BIEN HOA
Scene of Australian operations; South Vietnam
CHAU PHA
Battle of Chau Pha; South Vietnam
CHAUVEL
Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel (1865-1945). A commissioned officer in
the Queensland Mounted Infantry (QMI) he transferred to the Queensland
Permanent Military Forces in 1896. He commanded both the QMI and the 7th
Commonwealth Light Horse in the South African Boer War and the 1st Light
Horse Brigade during World War I. His commands in the Middle East included
the 1st Australian Division, the ANZAC Mounted Division, and the Desert
Mounted Corps. After the war he held the post of CGS.
CORAL
Battle of Coral; South Vietnam
ES SALT
Battle of Es Salt; Palestine (World War I)
GALLIPOLI
Site of the ANZAC landings; Turkey, 25th April 1915 (World War I)
HERAKLION
Area of Australian Operations; Crete (World War II)
JORDAN
Area of Australian Light Horse operations (World War I)
KAPYONG
Battle of Kapyong; Korea
KOEPANG
Battle of Koepang; Timor (World War II)
LONG HAI
Long Hai Hills; scene of Australian operations; South Vietnam
LONG TAN
Battle of Long Tan; South Vietnam
MALAYA
Scene of Australian operations during World War II, and the Malayan
Emergency
McKECHNIE
Lieutenant Colonel A.F.C. McKechnie (1901-1975). An officer in the RAE
militia. During World War II he served in the Middle East and New Guinea;
after the War, with the CMF, he went on to bbecome the CO Western
Command RAEME Training Depot and OC 2nd Medium Workshops.
McKINLAY
Colonel J.L. McKinlay (1894-1984). A signaller who landed at ANZAC Cove on
25th April 1915. During World War II he held a posting as a corps staff officer
and later, after the War, became the first Colonel Commandant for the Signal
Corps in Western Australia.
92
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Scene of operations by Australian Signallers; Greece (World War II)
POZIERS
Battle of Poziers; France (World War I)
RETIMO
Area of Australian operations; Crete (World War II)
SAMICHON
Samichon Valley; Scene of Australian operations; Korea
TOBRUK
Siege of Tobruk; Libya (World War II)
VERNON
Three generations of the Vernon family all served as commanding officer of
the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers throughout its lineage: W.L.
Vernon, 1903-06; his son H.V, 1921-26 and grandson P.V, 1952-52.
VINCENT
Major General D. Vincent (1916-1995). A Signal Corps officer, he served in
South Vietnam as the Commander 1st Task Force and later as the
Commander Australian Military Forces Vietnam.
VUNG TAU
Location of the Australian Logistic Support Group; South Vietnam
WALER
The breed of horse employed by the Australian Light Horse in World War I.
93
94
Corps and Regimental Badges of the Australian Army
CHAPTER 6
The majority of the corps badges within the Australian Army have
been copied from the British Army and this is to be expected, for the corps
themselves were derived from the British. There are, however, two
misconceptions about badges; one deals with the prefix title ROYAL and the
other concerns the type of crown that ensigns the badges.
There is a thought that corps and regiments prefixed with the title
ROYAL are noticeable as such because of the incorporation of the Crown
within their badges; this is not so. Prior to 1751 many units wore the Arms of
their commanders in their dress, but in that year King George II issued a
warrant which stated, amongst other things, that “no colonel (is) to put his
Arms, Crest, Device or Livery on any part of the Appointments of the Regiment
under his command”1. The warrant went on to state that the King’s Cypher
and Crown were to be placed on the front of caps; in other words, the Crown
was incorporated into the badges to signify that the troops were the soldiers of
the King and not the colonels.
There are six corps that have the Crown incorporated within their
badges and yet do not carry the prefix ROYAL. These are the Australian Army
Aviation Corps, Australian Intelligence Corps, Australian Army Catering
Corps, Australian Army Legal Corps, Australian Army Psychology Corps and
the Australian Army Band Corps. The Australian Army Public Relations
Service and the university regiments can also be added to this list. Whilst there
are no such examples within the Australian Army, there are a number of units
within the British Army that have the prefix ROYAL and yet have no crown
within their badges (eg. 10th Royal Hussars, the Royal Scots, the Royal Sussex
Regiment and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers).
The current style of Crown on our badge is commonly referred to as
the ‘Queen’s Crown’ and is based on the St Edward Crown. Badges worn
pre-1954 had the ‘King’s Crown’, based on the Imperial Crown. All sovereigns
select their own style of crown design for their cypher and it is this crown
which adorns military accoutrements throughout their reign. All British
sovereigns since King Charles II have been crowned with the St Edward Crown
so therefore, there is no guarantee that our badges will revert back to the
‘Kings Crown’ on the succession of Prince Charles to the throne.
The Royal Cypher which appears in the badges of the Royal
Australian Engineers, The Royal Queensland Regiment and The Royal
1.
T.J. Edwards Regimental Badges p. 12
95
Australian Corps of Transport, consists of the letters E and R, and the Roman
Numerical II (2). E is for Elizabeth, whilst the R is Regina (Latin for ‘queen’). R is
also used in kings’ cyphers, for Rex (king). E II R: Elizabeth the Second, Queen.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter appears in only two Australian
Army corps badges, that of the Royal Australian Engineers and the Royal
Australian Army Ordnance Corps. The Garter is made of dark blue velvet upon
which is borne, in gold lettering, the motto of the Order: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y
PENSE (EVIL TO HIM WHO EVIL THINKS)2. A circle or strap with a buckle
inscribed with a regimental title, or motto, is not a Garter. In badges the Garter
may only be correctly described as such when it contains the motto of the
Order (it should be noted that the motto does not belong to the corps that
incorporate the Order within their badges). There are a number of varying
translations for the Order’s motto which are not incorrect but the one
mentioned here is accepted by the College of Arms as being that which is
nearest to the original intention.
There is a misconception too that the Royal Australian Armoured
Corps adopted the tradition of wearing white metal regimental badges from the
British Army. In fact this is a purely Australian custom. There is no tradition of
white metal badges for armoured units in the British Army. The badges of both
the Royal Tank Regiment and the Royal Armoured Corps are white metal but
the badges of the Household Cavalry are brass and most of the British
armoured cavalry regiments badges are a mixture of brass and white metal
(Queen’s Own Hussars and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to name two). On
the other hand there are a good number of British Infantry regiments that wear
white metal badges; the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Gurkha
regiments, and the Parachute Regiment are a few examples.
It was Brigadier McCarthur-Onslow, Commander of the 4th
Australian Armoured Brigade in 1944, who suggested the white metal badge,
the aim being to give the Corps a distinctive badge and one in line with the
British Royal Armoured Corps badge.
The badge of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) is
also white metal. The colour was adopted from the British Army nursing badge
which goes back to 1902. In that year the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military
Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was inaugurated and its badge was designed by
Queen Alexandra herself; the badge was called a “cape medallion”3 and was
worn on the nurses’ scarlet capes. The medallion was made of silver and
contained, in the design, the Danish Cross (the Queen was a Danish Princess).
The Queen Alexandra Royal Nursing Corps (QARNC) was formed
from the QAIMNS in 1949 and the Corps carried on the tradition of the silver
badge; the Corps also uses the colour silver in its badges of rank. The current
RAANC badge was introduced into the Australian Army in 1953, adopting the
QARNC tradition of silver; the scarlet backing represents the nurses capes on
which the original medallion was worn.
96
2.
Letter to the author from the Garter Principal King of Arms, College of Arms, dated 30th September
1995
3.
British Nursing Badges p. 73
Then there is the badge of the Sydney University Regiment, which
happens to be black. In 1929 His Majesty King George V approved of the
affiliation between this Regiment and the 60th Regiment the King’s Royal Rifle
Corps (hence the bugle horn within the badge). As with most rifle regiments in
the British Army, the Corps’ regimental badge, badges of rank and the like
were black. The tradition of the affiliation is still carried on by the Regiment.
In most cases the collar badges of the corps and regiments are just
smaller versions of the head-dress badge (but in the majority of cases they are
manufactured in pairs so when worn the badges face into the centre of the
body); however, there are four exceptions. There are two different designs for
the collar badge of the Royal Regiment of Australian artillery (one for warrant
officers class two and below, and one for the officers and warrant officers class
one); there are two different versions of the badge for the Royal Australian
Engineers (for the two rank structures as explained above for the gunners),
there is a different design for the Infantry Corps badge, and the Chaplains’
Department wear a cross. The gunners’ grenade has seven flames and the
sappers’ nine; the reason for the different number of flames is simply to
differentiate between the two Corps.
There are some long and complex histories behind many of the corps
and regimental badges within the Australian Army. The aim here is not to go
into these histories but rather simply to explain the design and make-up of the
badges as they are today, along with a very brief background to the corps or
regiment.
References to the date on which a particular badge was adopted by a
corps or regiment are based on tthe original design of the current badge proper
and not to the change of Crown (eg. the badge of the Royal Australian Artillery
was adopted in 1949 but the design of the Crown changed in 1954; the date
given in the text is 1949).
The Australian Army Badge
In 1902 a badge was urgently sought for the Australian contingents
raised after Federation for service in South Africa during the Boer War. The
most widely accepted version of the origin of this badge is the one that
attributes the selection of its design to a British officer, Major General Sir
Edward Hutton, the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Australian
Forces at that time.
Hutton had earlier received as a gift from Brigadier General Joseph
Gordon, a military acquaintance of long standing, a ‘Trophy-of-Arms’
comprising mounted cut and thrust swords and triangular Martini Henri
bayonets which were arranged in a semi-circle around the Crown. To General
Hutton the shield was symbolic of the co-operation of the naval and military
forces of the Commonwealth.
The original design which was created and produced in haste in
1902 was modified in 1904. This badge carried a scroll inscribed with the
wording AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES and it was worn
throughout both World Wars. There were a number of variations to the badge;
a special version was struck for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 and
97
there was a design which had the wording AUSTRALIAN INSTRUCTIONAL
CORPS in the sscroll.
In 1949 when corps and regimental badges were re-introduced into
the Army, the inscription on the scroll was changed to read AUSTRALIAN
MILITARY FORCES. In 1969 the badge went through another alteration with
the introduction of the FFederation Star and the inscription was once more
changed to read AUSTRALIA; this design was never fully issued.
In 1991 a new design was produced which is now on issue. The
‘Rising Sun’ badge was originally entitled the General Service Badge but it is
now officially called the Australian Army Badge. It will, however, always be
referred to as the ‘Rising Sun’.
98
The Trophy
The Original Badge
The 1904 design
The 1949 design
A semi-circle of rays protruding out and away from the Crown;
below, a scroll inscribed with the title THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY
THE
ARMY
AUSTR LIAN
A
The Australian Army Badge
Generals Badge
Generals Badge
Crossed sword and baton within a wreath, ensigned with the Royal
Crest (a lion guardant upon the Crown). This badge is worn by all general
ranks.
The Royal Crest
A lion guardant upon the Crown. This badge is worn by brigadiers
and colonels.
The Royal Crest
99
The Royal Military College (Duntroon)
A
R IN
PR
O M OV
D
O
E
T
CT
R OY A L
COL L E G E
V I M
MI
L I T A R Y
The Royal Military College (Duntroon)
Crossed boomerangs within a scroll, bearing the Corps of Staff
Cadets motto DOCTRINA VIM PROMOVET (KNOWLEDGE PROMOTES
STRENGTH), atop another scroll inscribed with the title ROYAL MILITARY
COLLEGE. The whole surmounted with the Crown.
1912.
100
The College opened in 1911 and the current badge was approved in
R ALI
T
S
A
AU
A World War I Mark IV tank above a boomerang, inscribed with
AUSTRALIA, backed by a wreath and crossed lances. The whole surmounted
by the Crown.
The Australian Tank Corps was formed in 1928 and was re-named
the Australian Armoured Corps in 1941, receiving the prefix ROYAL in 1948.
The current badge came into service in 1949.
101
TRAL
S
U
R
PA
IA
A
1st Armoured Regiment (Tank)
AT
U S
A World War I Mark V tank above a boomerang, inscribed with the
motto PARATUS (PREPARED), and backed by crossed lances and a circle
(bearing the name AUSTRALIA) which is surmounted with the Crown.
The Regiment was raised in 1949. The current badge was approved
in 1951 but was not manufactured until 1955.
102
2nd Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance)
A wedge-tailed eagle carrying a lance and pennant inscribed with the
Regimental motto COURAGE.
The Regiment was raised in 1967 from elements of 2nd/14th
Queensland Mounted Infantry and the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Lances. The
current badge was introduced in 1967.
103
1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers (Reconnaissance)
R O YA L N
.S.W
N
LA
CE R S
1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
(Reconnaissance)
The Carrington family Crest (an elephant’s head with coronet and
three fleur-de-lis, upon a wreath) backed by crossed lancers; below, a wreath
of waratah and a scroll bearing the Regiment’s title.
The Unit was raised in 1948 as the result of an amalgamation of the
1st and the 15th Light Horse Regiments which were themselves raised in 1903
and 1918 respectively from earlier units. The badge (the design of which goes
back to the Sydney Light Horse Volunteers, a predecessor of the 1st LHR) was
first worn in 1889 but was replaced by the General Service Badge during World
War II. The badge was re-introduced in 1948.
104
Regiment
E
2nd/14th Light Horse
(Reconnaissance/APC)
(Queensland
Mounted
Infantry)
T H L I GH T
N
H
E
E
NT
N
CO
R E GI M
D / F OU R T
SE
OR
QM I
SE
FO R
WA R D
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted
Infantry) (Reconnaissance/APC)
An emu within a circle (inscribed with the Regiment’s title); below, a
scroll bearing the Regimental motto (FORWARD). The whole surmounted by
the Crown.
The Regiment was raised in 1930 by the amalgamation of the 2nd
Light Horse which can trace its history back to 1860 and the 14th Light Horse
which was raised in 1918. The current badge was introduced in 1989.
105
4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse (Reconnaissance)
I CH
DI E N
The Prince of Wales’ plume, coronet and motto ICH DIEN (I SERVE).
Below, two rampant horses above a boomerang bearing the Regiment’s title.
An amalgamation of units in 1862 saw the formation of the Prince of
Wales Regiment Light Horse (Hussars). The 4th Australian Light Horse was
raised in 1914. An amalgamation in 1948 between the 19th Light Horse and
the 2nd/4th Armoured Regiment resulted in the raising of the present Unit.
The current badge was introduced in 1949.
106
12th/16th Hunter River Lancers (APC)
R
A
N
TE
CE
RS
HU N
R IV ER
L
12th/16th Hunter River Lancers (APC)
The Carrington family Crest (an elephant’s head with coronet and
three fleur-de-lis, upon a wreath) backed by crossed lances. A scroll around
the lower half of the badge bears the Regimental title.
The Lancers was formed in 1948 from the 16th Hunter River Lancers
and the 12th New England Light Horse, both formed in 1918 from units which
can trace their lineage back to the NSW Cavalry Troop raised in 1854. The
107
B Squadron 3th/4th Cavalry Regiment (APC)
R ES
O LU T E
B Squadron 3th/4th Cavalry Regiment (APC)
A scorpion and a boomerang, bearing the Regimental motto
RESOLUTE, backed by a wreath and ensigned with the Crown. The badge was
that of 3rd Cavalry Regiment before the amalgamation.
The 3rd and 4th Cavalry Regiments were raised in 1967 and 1971
respectively, amalgamating in 1981. The current badge is that of 3rd Cavalry
Regiment, which was approved in 1977.
108
N
EC
IA N M O
U
AL
AS
PE
ED R IFLES
NT
SOUTH AUS
TR
A Squadron 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) (APC)
RA
T
NT
E
R
ER
A Squadron 3rd/9th Light Horse
(South Australian Mounted Rifles) (APC)
A Piping Shrike within an oval bearing the Regiment’s title, upon a
scroll inscribed with the motto NEC ASPERA TERRENT (NOR HARDSHIPS
DETER). The whole surmounted by the Crown.
The Unit was raised in 1948 and the current badge was approved in
1949 but was not manufactured until 1954.
109
A Squadron 10th Light Horse (Reconnaissance)
PER
R
ITE
C
EE
ELO
V
TP
ER UTE
C
CUT
A black swan on the water; below, a boomerang bearing the
Regimental motto PERCUTE ET PERCUTE VELOCITER (STRIKE AND STRIKE
SWIFTLY), backed by crossed sabres. Above, the Regimental title (10 as a
Roman Numeral) surmounted by the Crown.
The Regiment was established in 1914 from the 10th Western
Australian Mounted Infantry but was disbanded in 1919. The 25th Light Horse
was re-designated as the 10th Light Horse Regiment in 1918. The titled
changed to the 10th Reconnaissance Battalion (WAMI) in 1940.
1960.
110
The current title was adopted in 1976 and the badge was approved in
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
QU
O FA S
ET
IQUE
GLORI
T
UB
A
DU C U N
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
A 9 pounder RML (rifled muzzle loader) with rammer; above, a scroll
bearing both the Regimental Battle Honour and motto UBIQUE
(EVERYWHERE) surmounted by the Crown. Below, a scroll inscribed with the
Regiment’s second motto QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT (WHITHER RIGHT
AND GLORY LEAD).
There are two different collar badges for the Regiment. One is the
RAA Scroll worn by warrant officers class two and below; the other is the seven
flame grenade worn by officers and warrant officers class one.
QU
O FA S
ET
GLORI
T
The Royal Australian Artillery was formed in August 1899, (17
months before Federation) from the Permanent Artillery of New South Wales,
Victoria, and Queensland (the Militia did not become a part of the RAA until
1936). The title Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery was granted by the
Queen in 1963; the current badge was adopted in 1949.
A
DU C U N
U B I Q UE
Two Different Collar Badges
111
Y
PE N S
ROY
A
L
A
U
E
HO
NI
SO
I
QU I M A
L
T
ST
N
RAL A N E
I
G
IN
RS
E
E
The Royal Cypher within the Garter (HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE EVIL TO HIM WHO EVIL THINKS) enclosed in a laurel wreath. Below, a scroll
inscribed with the Regiment’s title. The whole surmounted by the Crown.
There are two different designs of the RAE nine flame grenade collar
badge, one for warrant officers class two and below and a larger version of the
grenade for officers and warrant officers class one.
The Corps of Australian Engineers was formed from the colonial
engineer units in 1902 and re-designated as the Royal Australian Engineers in
1907 (the Militia units did not acquire the prefix ROYAL until 1936). The
current badge was adopted in 1930.
112
The figure of Mercury holding a caduceus in his left hand, with his
right hand aloft, poised on a globe of the world. Above the globe a scroll
inscribed with the Corps motto CERTA CITO (SWIFT AND SURE); below, a
boomerang bearing the title AUSTRALIA. The whole surmounted by the
Crown.
The Australian Corps of Signals was created in 1925 (taking over
communications from the Royal Australian Engineers); however, the Corps
was in existence for a short period from 1906 until 1912. The prefix ROYAL
was granted in 1948.
The current badge was approved in 1950 but it was not
manufactured until 1955.
113
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
ROYA L
AU STR A L IA
C OR
PS
N I N FA N
T
RY
Crossed Lee-Enfield .303 rifles backed by a wreath of wattle
incorporating a scroll bearing the Corps title. Ensigned with the Crown
between the rifle barrels.
The Corps collar badge is a Lee-Enfield bayonet backed by a wreath
of gum leaves.
The Corps, which is made up of a number of independent infantry
Regiments (each with their own history), was formed in 1948 and the current
badge was introduced in 1955.
The Corps Collar Badge
114
The Royal Australian Regiment
DU
T Y F I R ST
ST
RA IA
R
EN
I
G
The Royal Australian Regiment
A rampant kangaroo above a scroll, bearing the Regiment motto
DUTY FIRST, backed by crossed Lee Enfield .303 rifles and enclosed by a
wreath of wattle. Below, a boomerang inscribed with the Regimental title. The
whole ensigned with the Crown.
The Regiment was formed in November 1948 from the 65th, 66th,
and 67th Infantry Battalions which were themselves raised in October 1945.
The Regiment was granted the prefix title ROYAL in March 1949 and the
present badge came into service in 1953.
115
E
D
51 ST
BN
I
M OR
TR A
PA
IT A
C
U
51st Battalion The Far North Queensland Regiment
F
NQR
A kookaburra perched on a branch holding in its beak a snake, all
within a circle inscribed with the Regimental motto DUCIT AMOR PATRIAE
(LOVE OF COUNTRY LEADS ME) supported by a wreath of Bay; beneath a
scroll bearing the Unit’s title. The whole surmounted by a crown.
The 51st Battalion AIF was raised in 1916, drawing its troops from
the 11th Battalion and general reinforcements. In 1943 it amalgamated with
the 31st Battalion The Kennedy Regiment but the two units split in 1945 and
the Battalion was disbanded in 1946.
The Unit was re-raised in 1950 and became a Battalion of the Royal
Queensland Regiment in 1965 and was re-designated the 51st Battalion the
Far North Queensland Regiment in 1985.
The current badge was introduced in 1936 and the scroll was
changed to reflect the new title in 1985.
116
The Royal Queensland Regiment
I
R
RO
T
EN
P
O
R EG M
L QUE
A
Y
D
S L AN
N
E
A R I S -E T
FOCI
S
The Royal Queensland Regiment
The Royal Cypher within a circle, inscribed with the Regimental title,
supported by a wreath of wattle; below, a scroll bearing the Regimental motto
PRO ARIS-ET FOCIS (ALWAYS READY TO DEFEND). The whole surmounted
by the Crown.
The Regiment was formed in 1960 from a number of regional
regiments. The current badge was approved in 1962 but was not
manufactured until 1966.
117
The Royal New South Wales Regiment
R
OY
A
L N
S W R EG I
N
ME
T
The Royal New South Wales Regiment
Within a wreath of waratahs the Cross of St George, charged with a
representation of the Southern Cross and a lion passant guardant; below, a
scroll inscribed with the Regiment title. The whole ensigned by the Crown.
regiments. The current badge was approved in 1962.
118
The Royal Victoria Regiment
V
IC T
ORI
A
The Royal Victoria Regiment
Crossed 7.62 SLRs (self-loading rifles) backed by a V for Victoria;
below, a scroll bearing the title VICTORIA. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
regiments. The current badge was approved in 1962 but was not issued until
1967.
119
The Royal South Australia Regiment
R
PRO
NT
O
I
SOUT
L
H
YA
A REG ME
LI
AUSTRA
PAT R IA
The Royal South Australia Regiment
A six-pointed star within a circle bearing the Regimental title; below,
a scroll inscribed with the Regimental motto PRO PATRIA (FOR COUNTRY).
The whole surmounted by the Crown.
The Regiment was formed in 1960 but its origin can be traced back to
the 10th Infantry Battalion (the Adelaide Rifles) which was raised in 1860. The
current badge was approved in 1963.
120
The Royal Western Australia Regiment
V IG
I LA NT
The Royal Western Australia Regiment
A white swan on the water backed by crossed 7.62 SLRs (self loading
rifles) and encircled by a wreath of wattle; below, a scroll, inscribed with the
Regimental motto VIGILANT, and a boomerang. The whole ensigned with the
crown.
regiments. The current badge was approved in 1962 but it was not issued until
1963.
121
The Royal Tasmania Regiment
I
L TA
YA
R
AR I
NT
PRO
G ME
O
RE
ANI A
M
S
O
S ET F
CI S
The Royal Tasmania Regiment
A lion passant within a circle inscribed with the Regimental title and
a wreath; below, a scroll inscribed with the Regimental motto PRO ARIS ET
FOCIS (ALWAYS READY TO DEFEND). Backed by an eight pointed star, the
topmost point being displaced by the Crown.
The Regiment was formed in 1960 and the current badge was
approved in 1963 but was not issued until 1967.
122
The Special Air Service Regiment
WH
O
DA
R ES
WI
NS
The Special Air Service Regiment
The Sword Excalibur with flames issuing upwards from below the
hilt; across and in front of the blade a scroll inscribed with the Regimental
motto WHO DARES WINS (the badge is at times incorrectly referred to as the
‘winged dagger’).
Raised as a Company in 1957 the Unit became a part of the Royal
Australian Regiment in 1958 and was then established as a Regiment in its
own right in 1964. The current badge was introduced in 1966.
123
The Northwest Mobile Force
EV
R
NO
ER
FOR C
V I GI L
E
T
N
A
The Northwest Mobile Force
A frill-necked lizard atop two crossed boomerangs; the upper
inscribed with the Unit title, the lower bearing the motto EVER VIGILANT.
Between the boomerangs the Regimental Colour Patch, based on that worn by
2nd/1st North Australian Observer Unit of World War II.
The Force was raised in 1981 and its role and area of responsibility
are similar to that of the 2nd/1st North Australia Observer Unit. The current
badge was approved in 1986.
124
The Pilbara Regiment
TU WANTA
MIN
PILB
NT
E
AR
A REGIM
The Pilbara Regiment
An emu, backed by crossed Lee Enfield .303 rifles, enclosed within a
wreath of Sturt’s Desert Pea. Below, a scroll bearing the Regimental title;
above, a scroll inscribed with the motto MINTU WANTA (ALWAYS ALERT). The
Regiment is the only unit within the Australian Army to have an Aboriginal
motto.
The Regiment was raised in 1985 from the 5th Independent Rifle
Company, which was raised in 1982. The current badge was introduced in
1985.
125
The Commando Regiment
The Commando Regiment
A dagger through a boomerang inscribed with the Regimental motto
STRIKE SWIFTLY.
The Regiment was formed in 1981 from 1 and 2 Commando
Companies and 126 Signals Squadron. The current badge was issued in 1956.
126
An eagle standing on a pair of crossed swords joined by a wreath of
wattle, both within another wattle wreath. Below, a scroll inscribed with the
Corps’ motto VIGILANCE. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
The Corps was formed from a number of squadrons and flights in
1968. A badge with the inscription Australian Army Air Corps was approved in
1963 but it was never manufactured. The current badge was approved in
1968.
127
Australian Intelligence Corps
AU S
IN TEL L
TRALIA
N
IGENCE COR
PS
A (white and red) Tudor Rose, surmounted by the CCrown, within a
laurel wreath. Below, two scrolls bearing the Corps’ title.
Raised in 1907 the Corps was disestablished in 1914 and replaced
by the Intelligence Section of the General Staff in each military district but it
was reformed in 1939. The current badge was introduced in 1949.
128
Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department (Christians)
QUE
R
T H IS
N C
ON
SIG
IN
Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department
(Christians)
A Maltese Cross; in the centre a circle, bearing the Department’s
motto IN THIS SIGN CONQUER, and a quatrefoil. Behind, a wreath (half laurel
and half wattle) and the whole ensigned with the Crown.
Chaplains were introduced into the Army in 1908, under the
responsibility of the Adjutant-General but the Department was not established
until 1942. The prefix ROYAL was granted in 1948.
1955.
The current badge was approved in 1949 but it was not issued until
129
Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department (Jewish)
Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department
(Jewish)
The Star of David with the topmost point surmounted by the Crown.
Chaplains were introduced into the Army in 1908, under the
responsibility of the Adjutant-General but the Department was not established
until 1942. The prefix ROYAL was granted in 1948.
The current badge was introduced during World War I.
130
Royal Australian Corps of Transport
The Royal Cypher within a circle inscribed with the Corps’ title,
enclosed by a laurel wreath; below, another scroll inscribed with the Corps’
motto PAR ONERI (EQUAL TO THE TASK) and backed by the seven pointed
Commonwealth Star, the topmost point surmounted by the Crown.
Formed in 1973 by an amalgamation of personnel from the Royal
Australian Engineers and The Royal Australian Army Service Corps (the Corps
it replaced). The badge was approved in the same year.
131
Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
ARMY
RP
AUSTR A
L
A
D I CAL CO
ME
N
LIA
S
RO
Y
P A U L AT I M
The rod of Aesculapius with a serpent twined around it, head
uppermost, within a circle inscribed with the Corps’ title and enclosed by a
laurel wreath; below, a scroll inscribed with the Corps’ motto PAULATIM
(LITTLE BY LITTLE). The whole backed by an eight pointed star, the topmost
point being ensigned by the Crown.
The Australian Army Medical Corps was raised in 1902 and was
granted the title ROYAL in 1948. The current badge was introduced in 1930
but it was replaced by the General Service Badge during World War II. The
badge was re-introduced in 1949.
132
RO
S
Royal Australian Army Dental Corps
P
YA
L
CO
R
AU
AL
ST. AR
MY DENT
A dragon’s head, with a sword in its mouth, within a laurel wreath;
above, the ensigned Crown, and below, a scroll inscribed with the Corps’ title.
The Australian Army Dental Corps was formed in 1943 with
personnel drawn from the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. The badge
was approved in 1949 but it was not introduced (and then in a slightly different
form) until 1955.
133
Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
Within the Garter (HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE - EVIL TO HIM
WHO EVIL THINKS) the shield of the Arms of the Old Board of Ordnance: three
cannon balls over three cannons. Below the Garter a scroll bearing the
Regimental title with the whole ensigned by the Crown.
Formed as the Australian Army Ordnance Stores Corps in 1902 at
the same time as the Australian Army Ordnance Department (a civilian-staffed
public service department) was raised. In 1942 the responsibility for repair
and maintenance of equipment was transferred to the Australian Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers, leaving the Corps to concentrate solely on the
supply of equipment.
In 1942 all ordnance services were placed completely under military
control and the word ‘stores’ was dropped from the title. The Corps was
granted the prefix ROYAL in 1948.
The current badge was approved in 1948 but it was initially worn
only as a collar badge. The head-dress badge was issued in 1956.
134
Upon a flash of lightning a horse forcene with a coronet of four
fleur-de-lis around its neck, a chain attached to the back of the coronet and
falling down its near side to a globe of the World on which the horse is standing
on its near hind leg; above, a scroll, inscribed with the Corps’ initials
surmounted by the Crown.
Formed in 1942 as the Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers it was made up of personnel from various units’ maintenance
tradesmen and members of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. The Corps
was granted the prefix ROYAL and dropped the title Corps in 1948. The
135
Royal Australian Army Educational Corps
R
A
A E
C
Royal Australian Army Educational Corps
A fluted flambeau of fire flames behind the Crown and a boomerang
inscribed with the Corps’ initials.
Raised as the Australian Army Educational Service in 1943 it was
re-designated a Corps in 1949 and was granted the prefix ROYAL in 1960. The
136
Australian Army Public Relations Service
Crossed quill and sword; behind, a wreath of wattle, a camera lens,
the sun, and a boomerang inscribed with the initials of the Service. The whole
The Service was raised in 1994 with personnel from the Royal
Australian Army Educational Corps. The badge was introduced in 1995.
137
Australian Army Catering Corps
AU
ST
.
ARM
Y CATERING
C
PS
R
O
An ancient Grecian brazier within a laurel wreath; below, a scroll
inscribed with the Corps’ title. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
Formed in 1943 it was made up of cooks from all the other corps
(with the exception of the Medical Corps who kept its cooks for some years).
The badge was introduced in 1948.
138
Royal Australian Army Pay Corps
An oval shaped ring, bearing the Corps title, above a scroll inscribed
with the motto INTEGRITY. Within the ring, behind the Southern Cross, a
T-Ledger (representing debits and credits); the whole surmounted by the
Crown.
Raised in 1914 the Corps was disbanded at the conclusion of World
War I. It was re-raised in 1937 but it was again disbanded in 1946. The Corps
was once more placed on the Order of Battle in 1948 with the prefix ROYAL;
however, the Corps did not have a Regular Army element until 1990. The
badge was approved in 1963 but was not introduced until 1968.
139
Australian Army Legal Corps
The blindfolded figure of Justice (holding a sword and a set of scales)
standing before a map of Australia, a pair of crossed swords and a circle
inscribed with the Corps’ title. Below, a scroll bearing the Corps’ motto
JUSTITIA IN ARMIS (JUSTICE IN ARMS) and above, ensigned by the Crown.
Formed initially as the Australian Army Legal Department in 1922 it
was re-designated as the Australian Army Legal Corps in 1943. The current
badge was approved in 1964.
140
Royal Australian Corps of Military Police
Crossed Roman broad swords, within a laurel wreath, and ensigned
by the Crown.
Raised originally as the ANZAC Provost Corps in 1916 it was
re-named the Australian Army Provost Corps in 1918 and granted the prefix
ROYAL in 1948. In 1974 it was again re-named the Royal Australian Corps of
Military Police. The current badge was introduced as a head-dress badge in
1949.
141
Australian Army Psychology Corps
A R MY
AUST.
PSYCHO
LOG Y
CORPS
The symbol for the Greek letter psi within a laurel wreath. Below, a
scroll bearing the Corps’ title; the whole ensigned by the Crown.
Raised as the Australian Army Psychology Service in 1945, it was
re-designated as a Corps in 1952. The current badge was approved in 1952.
142
A lyrebird, backed by a lyre, standing on a pair of crossed swords
within a laurel wreath; across the swords a scroll inscribed with the words
BAND CORPS. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
1970.
The Corps was raised in 1968 and the current badge was approved in
143
Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps
S
AUSTR A
L
A
OY
SI NG CORP
R
PR
O
UR
N
LIA N
E
HUMANI TAT
The Lamp of Learning (associated with Hygiea, the Greek Goddess of
Health) within a circle inscribed with the Corps’ title; below, a scroll bearing
the Corps’ motto PRO HUMANITATE (FOR HUMANITY). The whole is
surmounted by the Crown and backed with a scarlet coloured cloth.
Raised in 1902 as the Australian Nursing Service Reserve it was
re-named as the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1914. The prefix ROYAL
was granted in 1948 and the organization was again re-named in 1951 as the
Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. The current badge was introduced in
1953.
144
GI M E N
RE
S
U
Y
DNE Y
N
T
The Sydney University Regiment
IV
ER S I T Y
The Sydney University Regiment
The Arms of the University of Sydney (a lion passant guardant below
the Book of Learning and above a St George Cross charged with a
representation of the Southern Cross and a bugle horn) within a circle
inscribed with the Regiment’s title. Protruding from the circle the Waratahs of
New South Wales, the Rose of England, the Thistle of Scotland, the Leek of
Wales and the Shamrock of Ireland. The whole within an octagon and ensigned
with the Crown.
The Regiment was raised in 1900 as the University Volunteer Rifle
Corps but it was re-designated as the Sydney University Scouts in 1903 and
became a regiment in 1927. The current badge was introduced in 1930.
145
AC
IM
A
E
O
R
E
D
N
L
EG
A
U
IA
R
T
B
SL
N
Y
N
IE
EE
SC
QU
N
NT
The Queensland University Regiment
I V
IT
E RS
The Queensland University Regiment
The Shield of the University of Queensland (the Book of Learning
backed by a Maltese Cross; below, a scroll inscribed with the University motto
SCIENTIA AC LABORE - THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND HARD WORK). Below
the Shield a scroll inscribed with the Regimental title; the whole surmounted
by the Crown.
originally approved in 1949 but was not issued until 1955.
146
The University of New South Wales Regiment
S C I E NT I A
UN
IV
ER
SI
TY
OF
NS
W
G
RE
I
N
ME
T
The University of New South Wales Regiment
The Shield of the University of New South Wales (a St George Cross
charged with a lion passant guardant and a representation of the Southern
Cross; above, the Book of Learning, inscribed with the motto SCIENTIA KNOWLEDGE) above a boomerang inscribed with the Regimental title and a
wreath of wattle. The whole surmounted by the Crown and backed by a pair of
crossed Lee-Enfield bayonets.
The Regiment was formed in 1927. The current badge was first
issued in 1960 and replaced with a similar design (the same badge, less the
crossed bayonets) in 1966. The present badge was re-introduced in 1988.
147
The Melbourne University Regiment
E
P
LAUD
TER A C
RESCA M
OS
UN
IV
TY
E
RE
SI
U
GI M
EN
T
O
LB
ME
RN
ER
The Melbourne University Regiment
The Shield of the Melbourne University (a winged angel carrying a
wreath; behind, a representation of the Southern Cross and above, a scroll
inscribed with the motto POSTERA CRESCAM LAUDE - I SHALL GROW IN
THE ESTEEM OF THE FUTURE GENERATIONS). Below the shield a scroll
bearing the Regimental title; the whole surmounted by the Crown.
The Regiment was formed in 1948 and the current badge, which was
introduced in the same year, is based on the Melbourne University Rifles badge
of 1930.
148
The Monash University Regiment
MO N A SH
A N COR
A RO
A IMP
The Monash University Regiment
The Shield of the Monash University (the Book of Learning and the
wreath and sword from the Coat of Arms of Sir John Monash; below a chevron,
the Southern Cross and a scroll inscribed with the University motto ANCORA
IMPARO - I AM STILL LEARNING) adorned with a laurel wreath and ensigned
with a scroll inscribed with the Regiment’s name, MONASH, and surmounted
by the Crown.
Raised as a Company in 1968, the Unit became a Regiment in 1970
and in the same year the current badge was introduced.
149
The Adelaide University Regiment
S A P IENT
IA
VI N C I T
O M N IA
The Adelaide University Regiment
The Adelaide University Emblem (in the Chief of the shield the
Southern Cross, backed by horizontal stripes representing the colour blue; in
the lower Dexter the Book of Learning backed by a Quarter of yellow represented by black dots, and a Quarter of white) supported by the initials of
the Regiment (AUR). Below, a scroll bearing the motto SAPIENTIA OMNIA
VINCIT (WISDOM CONQUERS ALL). The whole surmounted by the Crown.
introduced in 1949.
150
The Western Australia University Regiment
K W ISDOM
SEE
NT
E
M
I
REG
ES
TERN
A US
TR
AL
IA
IV
E
W
N UN
RS
ITY
The Western Australia University Regiment
The Shield of the University of Western Australia (two Books of
Learning above a swan) above a scroll inscribed with the Regimental title and
enclosed in a laurel wreath. Above, a scroll with the motto SEEK WISDOM and
Originally the Perth University Regiment the Unit was re-designated
in 1949. The current badge was approved in 1950 but was not issued until
1955.
151
Devices and Features on Corps and Regimental Badges
Listed below are the various devices, mottos, animals etc which are
incorporated in the make-up of the Australian Army’s corps and regimental
badges. The mottos of orders, coats of arms and crests are not included.
Table 1: Orders of Knighthood and Royal Regalia
The Order of the Garter
Royal Australian Army Ordance Corps
The Royal Cypher
Royal Queensland Regiment
The Crest of the Prince of Wales
Table 2: Weapons
Bayonets
University of New South Wales Regiment
Boomerangs
Royal Military College
B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (APC)
Northwest Mobile Force
Commando Regiment
Royal Australian Army Education Corps
Cannons
Dagger
Commando Regiment
Lances
12th/16th Hunter River Lances (APC)
Rifles
Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Victoria Regiment
Royal Western Australia Regiment
Pilbara Regiment
Sabres/Swords
Special Air Service
Tanks
152
Table 3: Battle Honours
Ubique
Table 4: Coats of Arms and Crests
Adelaide University
Adelaide University Regiment
Melbourne University
Melbourne University Regiment
Monash University
Monash University Regiment
Old Board of Ordnance
State of New South Wales
Royal New South Wales Regiment
University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales Regiment
University of Queensland
Queensland University Regiment
University of Sydney
Sydney University Regiment
University of Western Australia
Western Australia University Regiment
Table 5: Animal Life
(Wedge-tailed) Eagle
2nd Cavalary Regiment (Reconnaissance)
Eagle
Elephant
Emu
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) (Reconnaissance/APC)
Pilbara Regiment
Frill Neck Lizard
Horse
Kangaroo
Kookaburra
Lion
Royal Tasmania Regiment
Lyrebird
Piping Shrike
A Squadron 3rd/9th Light Horse (SAMR)(APC)
Scorpion
Snake
Swan
153
Table 6: Stars and Crosses
Maltese Cross
Royal Australian Army Chaplins Department (Chrisitans)
Six Pointed Star
Royal South Australia Regiment
Southern Cross
Star of David
Royal Australian Army Chaplins Department (Jewish)
Table 7: Mottos
Certa Cito
Courage
Doctrina Vim Promovet
Royal Military College
Ducit Amor Patriae
Duty First
Ever Vigilant
Forward
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI)(Reconnaissance/APC)
Integrity
In This Sign We Conquer
Royal Australian Army Chaplins Department (Christians)
Justitia In Armis
Mintu Wanta
Pilbara Regiment
Nec Aspera Terrent
A Squadron 3rd/9th Light Horse (SAMR)(APC)
Paratus
Par Oneri
Paulatim
Percute Et Percute Velociter
Pro Aris-et Focis
Pro Humanitate
Pro Patria
Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
Resolute
Strike Swiftly
Commando Regiment
Ubique
Vigilance
Vigilant
Who Dares Win
Special Air Service Regiment
154
Table 8: Floral Emblems and Wreaths
Tudor Rose
Wreath of Bay
Wreath of Laurel
Wreath of Sturt’s Desert Pea
Pilbara Regiment
Wreath of Waratah
Royal New South Wales Regiment
Wreath of Wattle
Wreath of Wattle and Laurel
Royal Australian Army Chaplins Department (Christians)
Table 9: Musical Instruments
Lyre
Table 10: Mythology
Dragon
Mercury
Royal Australian Corps of Signal
Lamp of Learning
Rod of Asculapius and Serpent
Table 11: Religion
Star of David
Royal Australian Army Chaplins Department (Jewish)
Table 12: Stars and Constellations
Eight Pointed Star
Seven Pointed Star
Six Pointed Star
Southern Cross Constellation
Table 13: General
Camera Lens
Colour Patch
155
Coronet and Chain
Figure of Justice
Fluted Flambeau
Royal Australian Amry Education Corps
Globe of the World
Grecian Brazier
Lightning
Map of Australia
Quill
Sun
Australian Amry Public Relations Service
T-Ledger
Royal Australian Amry Pay Corps
Table 14: Lettering
LH
psi (Greek)
V
Royal Victoria Regiment
Table 15: Roman Numerals
X
156
Badges of Corps and Regiments since Disbanded or Amalgamated
CHAPTER 7
Badges of Corps and Regiments Since Disbanded or Amalgamated
Officer Cadet School
Officer Cadet School
The Royal Crest backed by a circle, bearing the School’s title, above a
scroll inscribed with the motto LOYALTY AND SERVICE.
157
Officer Training Unit (Scheyville)
Officer Training Unit (Scheyville)
An officer’s Star (the Star of the Knight Grand Cross of the Military
Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath) backed by a pair of crossed
broad swords supporting a scroll bearing the initials of the Unit.
158
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles
8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles
A shield (quartered with a St George Cross charged with a
representation of the Southern Cross and marshalled with a fleece, ship, garb,
pick and shovel in saltine) supported by a kangaroo and rampant lion; over a
scroll inscribed with the motto PRO REGE ET PARTRIA (FOR MY KING AND
COUNTRY). All within a wreath of Australian flora; below, a scroll inscribed
with the Regiment’s title. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
159
Royal Australian Survey Corps
O
IN
Royal Australian Survey Corps
A boomerang, inscribed with the Corps’ title, supporting a girded
globe of the world; the whole ensigned with the Crown.
160
Royal Australian Army Service Corps
Royal Australian Army Service Corps
The Royal Cypher within the Order of the Garter; surrounded by a
laurel wreath bearing a scroll inscribed with the Corps’ title. The whole backed
by an eight pointed star, the topmost point being displaced by the Crown.
161
Pacific Islands Regiment
Pacific Islands Regiment
A palm tree within an oval bearing the Unit’s title; below, a scroll
inscribed with the Regimental motto. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
162
Womens’ Royal Australian Army Corps
Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps
A lozenge, bearing the Southern Cross, above a scroll with the Corps’
initials; supported by a wreath of leaves. The whole ensigned with the Crown.
163
Army Apprentices’ School
Army Apprentices’ School
A pierced cog-wheel behind a flaming torch, a pair of crossed swords
and a cross; below, two scrolls, one bearing the Unit’s title, the other
AUSTRALIA. The whole surmounted by the Crown.
164
Infantry Battalion
The following are examples of different Infantry Battalion badges:
2nd Infantry Battalion, The City of
Newcastle Regiment
5th Infantry Battalion, The Victorian
Scottish Regiment
3rd Infantry Battalion, The Werriwa
Regiment
6th Infantry Battalion, The Royal
Melbourne Regiment
165
166
8th/7th Infantry Battalion, The North
Western Victorian Regiment
9th Infantry Battalion, The Moreton
Regiment
10th Infantry Battalion,
The Adelaide Rifles
11th/44th Infantry Battalion,
The City of Perth Regiment
The Launceston Regiment
The Macquarie Regiment
16th Infantry Battalion, The Cameron
Highlanders of Western Australia
The Darling Downs Regiment
167
27th Infantry Battalion, The South
Australian Regiment
The Swan Regiment
30th Infantry Battalion, The New South
Wales Scottish Regiment
31st Infantry Battalion,
The Kennedy Regiment
168
The Illawarra Regiment
38th Infantry Battalion, The Northern
Victorian Regiment
The Derwent Regiment
41st Infantry Battalion,
The Byron Scottish Regiment
169
170
42nd Infantry Battalion,
The Capricornia Regiment
43rd/48th Infantry Battalion,
The Hindmash Regiment
The St George Regiment
The Wide Bay Regiment
56th Reconnaissance Battalion,
The Riverina Regiment
58th/32nd Infantry Battalion,
The Melbourne Rifles
The Hume Regiment
The Papua and New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
171
The Regional Universities of
Queensland Regiment
172
UN
A
U
D EA
KIN
I V ER S I T
R
T
AU
V IC T O
R
R
BE LL O
PA C E
AU T
I
NY
A
P
OM
YC
The Deakin University Company
Unit Formations
CHAPTER 8
Unit Formations
Army Command and Staff College
Army Command and Staff College
An owl upon a scroll bearing the College motto TAM MARTE QUAM
MINERVA (BY ARTS AND SCIENCE AS WELL AS BY WAR); below, a
boomerang inscribed with AUSTRALIA and behind, a pair of crossed scimitars.
The whole ensigned with the Crown.
173
Unit Formations
1st Recruit Training Battalion (Kapooka)
1st Recruit Training Battalion (Kapooka)
Crossed Steyr F88 rifles backed by a laurel wreath; below, three
scrolls, two bearing the Battalion’s name and the other with the Unit’s
signature HOME OF THE SOLDIER. The whole ensigned with the Crown (the
scroll, HOME OF THE SOLDIER, is not a part of the official emblem).
Land Warfare Centre (Canungra)
Land Warfare Centre (Canungra)
Hydra, the seven-headed dragon; above, a scroll inscribed with the
Unit title; below, a boomerang bearing the title AUSTRALIA (the emblem was
adopted from the Unit it replaced: the Jungle Training Centre).
174
Unit Formations
Army Wargames Centre
SIM
ING
ULA
W
N
TIO
Army Wargames Centre
A shield displaying four arrows symbolising the principles of war (the
‘Concentration of Force’; the three little arrows being the enemy, the other the
friendly force). Below, a boomerang bearing the Centre’s title.
175
Unit Formations
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
Upon a shield a loaded crossbow with, above, a boomerang bearing
the Team’s initials and, below, a scroll with the motto PERSEVERE.
176
Unit Formations
Proof and Experimental Establishments
Proof and Experimental Establishments
A ‘go, no-go’ gauge, between it six cannon balls; below, a cannon
barrel and a boomerang. The whole ensigned with the Crown. The two scrolls
carry the Unit’s name and location (in this case Port Wakefield).
177
Unit Formations
Headquarters Special Operations
Headquarters Special Operations
A modified version of the Wyvern (the barbed tail has been replaced
by a shark tail and a short sword inserted in the right claw) above a boomerang
bearing the motto FESTINA LENTE (HASTEN SLOWLY). Various parts of the
two-legged dragon represent the headquarters capabilities: the wings for
airborne operations, the shark tail for water operations, the two legs for land
and the flaming tongue and sharpened claws represent an offensive capability.
The sword is representative of the Special Forces regiments.
178
Unit Formations
Brigade/Task Force Formations
Brigade/Task Force Formations
The number of the formation in Arabic above a boomerang bearing
the word BRIGADE (or TASK FORCE) and backed by a pair of crossed broad
swords; the whole ensigned with the Crown (in this example the formation is
the 3rd Brigade).
179
Unit Formations
Land Command Battle School
Land Command Battle School
A 7.62mm SLR bayonet; behind, a diamond displaying, on the right,
the night sky, with the Southern cross, and on the left a green field
representing the jungle. Below, a boomerang displaying the School’s title.
180
Unit Formations
Headquarters 1st Division
Headquarters 1st Division
A Kangaroo backed by a pair of crossed broad swords, the whole
ensigned with the Arabic number one.
181
Unit Formations
Headquarters 2nd Division
Headquarters 2nd Division
A pair of crossed Lee-Enfield .303 bayonets, on a red field, ensigned
with the Arabic number two.
182
Unit Formations
The Former Emblem for the Australian Army
The Former Emblem for the Australian Army
A kangaroo backed by a pair of crossed broad swords; the whole
ensigned with the Crown. The Emblem has been replaced by the General
Service Badge (the ‘Rising Sun’).
183
Unit Formations
The Former Emblem for Army Headquarters
The Former Emblem for Army Headquarters
The Royal Crest superimposed on a shield of red over blue.
184
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Eastern Command
The Emblem for the Former Eastern Command
A Waratah, the floral emblem of New South Wales.
185
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Southern Command
The Emblem for the Former Southern Command
Victoria’s State Badge; a shield bearing the Southern Cross,
ensigned with the Crown.
186
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Tasmania Command
The Emblem for the Former Tasmania
Command
The Badge of Tasmania; a lion rampant backed by a gold shield.
187
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Central Command
The Emblem for the Former Central Command
The Badge of South Australia; a Piping Shrike (seen from the rear)
perched on a twisted band of green and red, backed by a circle of gold.
188
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Western Command
The Emblem for the Former Western Command
gold.
The Badge of Western Australia; a Black Swan on a background of
189
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Northern Territory Command
The Emblem for the Former Northern Territory
Command
A Water Buffalo head, backed by a circle of gold on green.
190
Unit Formations
The Emblem for the Former Northern Command
The Emblem for the Former Northern Command
Cross.
The badge of Queensland; the Crown, backed by a blue Maltese
191
Unit Formations
The Badge of the Former 2nd Recruit Training Battalion
The Badge of the Former 2nd Recruit
Training Battalion
Two boomerangs backed by a wreath of wattle; one, surmounted by
the Arabic number two, bearing the Unit’s title, the other with the motto NULLI
SECUNDUS (SECOND TO NONE). The whole ensigned with the Crown.
192
Unit Formations
The Badge of the Former 3rd Training Battalion
The Badge of the Former 3rd Training Battalion
Within a wreath of wattle a lion; below, a scroll bearing the Unit’s
motto DUTY AND KNOWLEDGE; above, a boomerang bearing the Unit’s title
below the Arabic number three.
193
Unit Formations
The Emblem of the Former Materiel Division
The Emblem of the Former Materiel Division
An anvil backed by a pair of crossed broad swords; above, six cannon
balls and, below, two scrolls (bearing the Division’s title) and a boomerang
(bearing the name Army Headquarters). The swords, ammunition and anvil
represent the fighting and logistic stores that the Division was responsible for
procuring.
194
Military Skills, Trade and Other Badges
CHAPTER 9
There are many additional badges worn by officers and soldiers,
representing both military skills and trades, along with other special purpose
badges. These badges are worn on general duty, ceremonial and mess dress
uniforms only.
Commendation Brooch
T H E
A R M Y
A US TRA L A N
Commendation Brooch
This represents a commander’s commendation which has been
presented to the member for outstanding performance in his/her duty. There
are three levels of Commendation; a gold brooch for a Chief of Army
Commendation, silver for a General Officer commanding a command
Commendation and bronze for Formation Commander Commendation. The
design of the brooch is the Rising Sun backed by two crossed Mameluke
swords on an oval background.
195
Infantry Combat Badge
Infantry Combat Badge
The badge is a 7.62mm SLR bayonet backed by a wreath of laurels.
The ICB is awarded mainly to infantrymen posted to a unit whilst on active
service but in exceptional circumstances it may be awarded to personnel from
other corps posted to or serving with a battalion. The only exception to this was
in South Vietnam when all members of the Australian Army Training Team
(AATV), regardless of corps, were awarded the Badge.
Retired Members
Retired Members
Retired officers, with permission from the Chief of Army, are entitled
to wear the letter “R” below their rank on general duty, ceremonial and mess
dress uniforms. Warrant officers and other ranks who have, or are about to
take discharge may apply for permission to wear the shoulder title too.
196
Artificer
Artificer
The Artificer Badge, a crossed pincers and hammer, was originally
worn by artificers in the Artillery. It is now worn by qualified (other rank)
artificers within the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Skill at Arms
Skill at Arms
The badge, a pair of crossed Lee Enfield .303 rifles, is awarded to
soldiers who achieve the qualifying standard of shooting proficiency with small
arms.
197
Army Top 20 Badge
Army Top 20 Badge
The badge is a pair of crossed Lee Enfield .303 rifles, backed by a
wreath of laurel. It is awarded to members who qualify in the final 20
competitors at the Champion Shot for the Army annual competition.
Sniper
S
Sniper
The badge is a pair of crossed Lee Enfield .303 rifles, with the letter S
(sniper) between the barrels. The badge is awarded to soldiers who qualify on
the Infantry Snipers Course.
198
Royal Cypher and Crown
Royal Cypher and Crown
Worn by officers holding an appointment to the Sovereign
(Aide-de-Camp General, Aide-de-Camp, Honorary Aide-de-Camp, Equerry,
Extra Equerry, Honorary Chaplain, Honorary Physician, Honorary Surgeon,
Honorary Dental Surgeon, and Honorary Nursing Sister).
Recruit Instructor
1 RT B
Recruit Instructor
The letters RI (recruit instructor) above a scroll bearing the Unit title
1 RTB (1st Recruit Training Battalion), backed by a demi-wreath of laurel. The
badge is issued to all personnel who served in the Battalion as a instructor.
199
Pilot
Pilot
The Royal Crest, backed by a pair of wings.
Observer
Observer
The Crown; below, the letter O (observer) with a single wing.
200
Loadmaster
Loadmaster
The Crown; below, the letter L (loadmaster) within a laurel wreath,
and a single wing.
Technician
Technician
The Crown; below, the letter T (technician) within a laurel wreath,
and a single wing.
201
Physical Training Instructor
PTI
Physical Training Instructor
The letters PTI (physical training instructor) within a wreath, backed
by a diamond.
Parachutist
Parachutist
A white parachute backed by a pair of drooping (pale blue) wings.
202
Parachutist (Special Air Service Regiment)
Parachutist
(Special Air Service Regiment)
A parachute backed by a pair of spread wings.
Parachutist (3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment)
Parachutist (3rd Battalion,
The Royal Australian Regiment)
A (pale blue) parachute backed by a pair of drooping wings, all with a
maroon background. The badge is that of the 1st Australian Parachute
Battalion of the 2nd AIF.
203
Parachutist (Commando)
Parachutist (Commando)
A parachute backed by a pair of (black) drooping wings on a green
background.
Parachute Jump Instructor
Parachute Jump Instructor
A parachute within a wreath with a single wing; the whole
204
Parachute Rigger
R
GG
R
Parachute Rigger
A wreath of laurel backed by a boomerang and a parachute.
A C
AD
T
R
Air Dispatch
Air Dispatch
Within a circle bearing the initials of the Royal Australian Corps of
Transport and a pair of wings, the letters AD (air dispatch), above the Crown.
205
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
An old style aerial bomb on a scarlet background.
206
Ammunition Technical Officer
Ammunition Technical Officer
A flaming bomb above a demi wreath of wattle.
207
Musician
Musician
Below the Crown a lyre backed by oak leaves.
208
Drummer
Drummer
A rope tensioned side drum.
Piper
Piper
A set of bag pipes.
209
Army Individual Readiness Notification Badge
Army Individual Readiness Notification Badge
A 5.56mm F88 Steyr rifle (the Army’s all-arms rifle) with a demi
wreath of wattle (the wreath signifying victory).
210

Customs and Traditions

Transcription

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